Canadian government moves to end Air Canada strike, seeks binding arbitration

The Canadian government on Saturday moved to end a strike by Air Canada cabin crew by asking a labour board to order binding arbitration, an action that the country’s largest carrier had sought and which the striking flight attendants opposed.

Thousands of Air Canada unionised flight attendants walked off the job over a wage contract dispute just before 1am, forcing Air Canada to cancel all of its 700 daily flights, affecting more than 100,000 travellers who had to find alternative flights or stay put.

Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu at a news conference said she had asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to impose binding arbitration on both sides and order an immediate end to the strike.

“This is not a decision that I’ve taken lightly, but the potential for immediate negative impact on Canadians and our economy is simply too great,” she said.

Air Canada had indicated it would take four to five days to resume full operations, she said, assuming the board granted the government’s request, which it usually does.

The carrier had offered a 38 per cent increase in total compensation for flight attendants over four years, with a 25 per cent raise in the first year, which the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) said was insufficient.

Attendants are currently paid only when their plane is moving. The union is seeking compensation for time spent on the ground between flights and when helping passengers board.