The Canadian Labor and Management Committee (CIRB) has said Air Canada’s continued strike (10,000 cabin crew members left work) is illegal after the striker ignored an order to return to work.
The Regulatory Commission called on Monday after declaring workers must return to work at 2pm on Sunday (18:00 GMT).
The Montreal-based cabin crew for carriers is seeking negotiated solutions and said binding arbitration will put pressure on airlines. Workers say the proposed wage increases are not enough to catch up with inflation and meet the federal minimum wage.
Attendants are also calling for paying for work done on the ground, including helping passengers get on board. They are now paid only when the plane is moving, sparking voice support from Canadians on social media.
Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his support for the cabin crew, saying “it should always be fairly compensated.”
“We are in a situation where this action has led to literally hundreds of thousands of Canadians and visitors to our country being confused.”
Airlines typically have 130,000 people daily during the ongoing peak summer travel season, and are part of the airline’s Global Star Alliance.
Air Canada on Monday suspended its third quarter and annual profit forecasts as the plane remains grounded.
The union said it would continue its strike and returned to the table to “negotiate fair deals.”
The government will fine tune
Government options to end the strike include asking the court to enforce an order back to work and seek a prompt hearing.
Minority governments could also try to pass laws that require political rivalry and endorsement support in both Houses of Canadian Parliament, which is on break until September 15th.
“The government is very reserved because in Canada, the government has decided that even public sector workers who may be deemed essential, they must be very careful when they deprive the government of their right to strike.”
Another option is to encourage negotiations, Pauler said.
The government did not respond to requests for comment.
On Saturday, Carney’s liberal government moved to end the strike by asking the CIRB to order binding arbitration. The CIRB, an independent administrative court that interprets and applies Canadian labor laws, issued orders that Air Canada had sought and unionized flight attendants.
The previous government intervened to head for a dock strike last year under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which threatened to cripple the economy, but it is very rare for unions to ignore the CIRB order.
Travelers at Toronto Pearson International Airport over the weekend said they were confused and annoyed about when they could fly.
Italy’s Francesca Tondini, 50, said she supported the union, sitting at Toronto airport, despite not knowing when she would be able to return home.
“They’re right,” she said with a smile.
The dispute between the cabin crew and Air Canada is hinged on the airline’s way to compensate flight attendants. Most, including Air Canada, pay only if the plane is running.
In the latest contract negotiations, flight attendants in both Canada and the US are seeking compensation for working hours, including tasks such as passengers.
New labor agreements between American Airlines and Alaska Airlines legally require carriers to start clocks to pay flight attendants when passengers are on board.
American flight attendants are currently being compensated for several hours between flights. United Airlines cabin crew, who voted for a temporary contract agreement last month, is hoping for similar provisions.
In the market, as of 12pm in Toronto (16:00 GMT), Canadian Air stocks have fallen 1.6%. US Carrier United Airlines – Another Star Alliance member serving several major Canadian cities without an impressive cabin crew is up 1.4%.
