Strike at Air Canada illegally declared, staff must work

The strike of the staff of the Canadian airline Air Canada is illegal. That is what the Canada Industrial Relations Board (Cirb) determined after the staff had ignored an earlier call to get back to work.

Since Saturday, 10,000 stewards and stewardesses of Canada’s largest airline have laid out the work after breaking negotiations between their trade union and Air Canada.

Air Canada then suggested involving the Canadian government as a mediator in the negotiations. The union did not agree.

130,000 travelers affected

Trade union Canadian Union of Public Employees (Cupe) and Air Canada have been talking about the employment conditions for eight months. The employees want, among other things, higher wages, a better pension and also paid for work outside the cabin.

The Canadian trade union must now call from the Cirb at no later than 12.00 local time members to get back to work. It is not known what the consequences are when the call is ignored again.

Air Canada has around 700 flights a day. The strike affects around 130,000 travelers every day. Flights to and from Toronto and Montreal have also been canceled today.