Air Canada is bracing for a complete shutdown unless the airline and its 10,000 flight attendant union representatives reach a deal by early Saturday. The Canadian carrier has already canceled hundreds of flights ahead of the deadline, putting about 130,000 travelers at risk daily.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) rejected a proposed arbitration process that would have prevented the strike, opting instead to negotiate a contract agreement directly with the airline. Air Canada expects to call off 500 flights by Friday and has already canceled 18 domestic flights and four international flights on Thursday.
Air Canada Chief Operating Officer Mark Nasr said the decision to lock out the union members will help facilitate an orderly restart after the strike, which could last up to a full week. The airline and CUPE have been in contract talks for eight months without reaching a tentative deal.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/air-canada-strike-lockout-flight-attendants-17152baa4e57b39f8375c0b90dc37135