Air Canada Flights to ‘Gradually’ Resume After Mediated Settlement

Air Canada will gradually restart its operations today after
it reached a mediated settlement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees
through a process that was overseen by a “mutually agreed-to
mediator,” the carrier announced Tuesday morning. 

CUPE members began a strike on Aug. 16, shutting down Air
Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights. Air Canada Express flights continued to
operate as normal. Air Canada on Aug. 13 issued
a lockout in advance of the strike and began shutting down flights Aug. 14.

The airline had readied to restart flights on Sunday after
the Canadian Industrial Relations Board acted on a directive of the Canada
Labour Code to end the strike, but CUPE
defied that order and continued its walkout. 

The two sides, however, began mediation discussions on
Monday on the basis that the union commit to have the airline’s 10,000 flight
attendants immediately return to work, according to Air Canada. 

Flights are scheduled to resume the evening of Aug. 19, but
it may take seven to 10 days to return to full service as aircraft and crew are
out of position, according to Air Canada. Only customers with confirmed
bookings whose flights are shown as operating should go to the airport, the
airline advised.

Air Canada said it would not comment further on the
agreement until the ratification process is complete. CUPE members will need to
vote on the agreement to make it permanent. During any ratification or under
the binding arbitration process a strike or lockout is not possible, according
to the carrier.

“Unpaid work is over,” CUPE spokesman Hugh Pouliot
said in a Tuesday statement, according to
CNN. “We have reclaimed our voice and our power.”

The union was fighting for better wages for flight
attendants, which would include pay for duties that are performed while planes
are on the ground, such as boarding passengers. Air Canada attendants had been
paid only for duties performed during flight times.

CUPE did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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