Flights to Resume: Air Canada and Union Reach Tentative Deal to End Strike

Good news for travellers across the 6ix. Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the union representing its flight attendants, have reached a tentative agreement. This deal ends a strike that grounded hundreds of flights and affected about 500,000 passengers.

After nine hours of talks with a federal mediator, both sides announced the agreement early Tuesday. Flights are expected to gradually return, starting this evening. This brings an end to days of uncertainty for many at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

A Breakthrough After Days of Disruption

The strike began early Saturday morning, leading to widespread cancellations. Air Canada, which runs about 700 flights daily, had to suspend much of its operations. This left many travellers stranded.

The union and the airline had been in negotiations for months. The previous collective agreement expired on March 31. The situation escalated over the weekend, even after the federal government tried to step in.

The Fight for Ground Pay

Ground pay was a major issue in the dispute. Historically, airlines have not paid flight attendants for work they perform on the ground. This includes time spent during boarding, delays, and cancellations.

CUPE announced that the new deal addresses this key point. “Unpaid work is over,” the union said in a statement. This change could set a new standard for the airline industry in Canada. Labour experts note this is a significant move for flight attendants everywhere.

What This Means for Travellers at Pearson

Air Canada is now working to get its planes and crews back in position. Michael Rousseau, the airline’s CEO, asked for patience from customers. He stated that a full return to normal service might take a week or more.

For passengers at Pearson Airport, it’s important to check your flight status before heading to the terminal. Pearson staff are on hand to help passengers as operations get back up and running.

If your flight was cancelled, Air Canada says it will offer several options. These include a full refund, a credit for future travel, or rebooking on another airline if space is available.

A Complex Road to Resumption

Restarting a major airline is a complicated process. The airline apologized for the major impact the strike had on its customers’ travel plans.

The union will now present the tentative agreement to its more than 10,000 members for a ratification vote. The parties have not yet made the details of the agreement public. Both sides are waiting for the union members to approve the deal.

Were your travel plans affected by the Air Canada strike? Share your story in the comments below.

More…

• https://globalnews.ca/news/11340075/stranded-air-canada-passengers-huge-price-hikes-other-airlines
• https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-contract-dispute-flight-attendants-1.7612403
• https://www.overheretoronto.com/what-is-ground-pay