Air Canada’s flight attendants’ union ask for conciliator with talks stalled

OTTAWA—The union representing 6,800 Air Canada flight attendants has asked for a federal conciliator to assist in contract negotiations with the airline.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees said Monday that it filed the request with the Federal Mediations and Conciliation Services after reaching an impasse with management on several key issues.

The collective agreement between the flight attendants and Air Canada expired last December. Negotiations for a new contract have been underway since April 6, but so far a settlement has eluded the parties.

“The union’s proposals have been fair, but Air Canada seems intent on pushing for unreasonable concessions from its flight attendants,” said Jeff Taylor, president of the Air Canada component of CUPE.

“We are left with no choice but to ask for a conciliator’s assistance in the hopes they will help us and Air Canada find some common ground.”

The union proposals included what it calls “fair” wage increases and “much needed” improvements in working conditions.

Air Canada is demanding several concessions, which would increase workloads, reduce health benefits and make drastic changes to the pension plan, the union says.

“Our members have already done more than their fair share in helping Air Canada get to a secure financial footing and now that the airline has returned to profitability management asks for even more,” Taylor said.

“Top Air Canada executives just gave themselves huge salary increases while at the same time trying to strip flight attendants of their pensions. It is outrageous and totally unacceptable.”

The union said it intended to seek further negotiation sessions with Air Canada while waiting for a conciliator to be assigned, something it says should happen within in the next 15 days.

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