Air Canada flight attendants voting on strike that could come as of Sept. 21

Winnipeg Free Press
Ross Marowitz
Canadian Press

MONTREAL - Air Canada could face its second strike this year as flight attendants are expected to endorse a strike Tuesday that could begin as early as Sept. 21.

The results of a 10-day strike vote are expected to be released this afternoon.

Unless a last-minute deal is reached, a strike would be Air Canada's (TSX:AC.B) second labour disruption in three months.

About 3,800 customer sales and service representatives represented by the Canadian Auto Workers union held a three-day strike in June.

Jeff Taylor, president of the local union that represents flight attendants, has said members are unhappy and angry about concessions and sacrifices made for more than a decade to make Air Canada financially viable.

If the flight attendants go on strike, Canadian Union of Public Employees members would seek to pressure the airline for a new contract after they massively rejected an earlier tentative deal late last month.

Air Canada declined to comment about its contingency plans, but reports have suggested it has trained managers as replacements for its flights.

Analysts believe a strike by thousands of in-flight workers would have an impact on operations and likely prompt the federal government to either block a strike or end one quickly.

The union has urged the government not to intervene in a strike.

But federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt tabled back-to-work legislation two days into the CAW strike saying the government wouldn't tolerate any disruption to the public or impact on the economy.

The two sides hammered out a deal before the legislation was passed, but sent the contentious issue of requiring new hires to join a defined contribution pension plan - instead of the more expensive defined benefit system — to an arbitrator.

Air Canada has had trouble concluding collective agreements that are ratified by workers. Pilots, flight attendants and flight dispatchers are all rejected tentative agreements.

Canada's largest airline and its regional partners carry about 31 million passengers annually to more than 170 destinations on five continents.

On the Toronto Stock Exchange, Air Canada shares were down one cent at $1.64 in midday trading, three cents off their 52-week trading low.

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