Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Air Canada has reached a mediated settlement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), bringing an end to two days of disruption that saw the union openly defy a federal back-to-work order. The airline confirmed Tuesday morning that flights will begin gradually resuming this afternoon.
According to industry outlet Open Jaw, negotiations between the two sides restarted late Monday night and concluded in the early hours of Tuesday with a mediated agreement. “The suspension of our service is extremely difficult for our customers,” said Michael Rousseau, President and CEO of Air Canada. “We deeply regret and apologize for the impact on them of this labour disruption. Restarting a major carrier like Air Canada is a complex undertaking. Full restoration may require a week or more, so we ask for our customers’ patience and understanding.” As of 7:30 a.m. EDT, flight-tracking service FlightAware reported 539 cancellations for Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights on Tuesday. While the agreement must still be ratified by members, both sides confirmed the immediate end of strike action. “Unpaid work is over. We have a tentative agreement we will bring forward to you,” CUPE stated on its website, adding that members are required to cooperate with the resumption of operations.
The settlement marks a significant step toward restoring operations and easing the travel chaos faced by thousands of passengers across Canada and abroad.
