Air Canada flight attendants have rejected the airline's wage agreement, with the dispute expected to be worked out through mediation, as workers cannot take future legal action.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees said an overwhelming 91.1% of Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flight attendants voted against ratifying the company’s wage offer, in a 94.6% voter turnout.
This comes after the airline and flight attendants reached a tentative agreement in August after a four-day strike that left half a million travellers stranded.
CUPE said that even with the proposed increase, Air Canada flight attendants would still earn less than federal minimum wage, which is US$17.75 per hour or US$2,840 per month on a 40-hour workweek.
The president of the Air Canada component of CUPE, Wesley Lesosky, said the government played a corrosive role in the negotiations and that the airline never bargained in good faith on wages.
“By CEO Michael Rousseau’s own admission, the company expected the federal government to intervene and take away the only leverage we had - our right to go on strike,” he said.
“Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu only waited 11 hours to prove the company right.”
The union said it offered a one-year increase of 12% for Rouge flight attendants and mainline flight attendants with five years of service or less, and 8% for those with six or more years of service.
The airline, however, offered an annual increase of 3%, 2.5% and 2.75% in the remaining years of the proposed four-year contract.
The strike has cast a spotlight on demands by North American flight attendants to be paid for their time on the ground, as flight attendants at Air Canada and multiple U.S. carriers only pay cabin crew while the plane is in motion.
Air Canada said the agreement included compensation for work performed on the ground and broad improvements to wages, pensions and benefits.
International president of the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), Sara Nelson, said the Air Canada strikes and their public support would also help her U.S. members. This includes United Airlines flight attendants represented by AFA who recently rejected a tentative agreement partly over demands for ground pay.
"The inspirational fight of the Air Canada flight attendants is helpful and creates momentum," Nelson said.
