OPSEU/SEFPO is closely following the news that flight attendants represented by CUPE have provided Air Canada with the legally required 72 hour strike notice. Air Canada has also issued a lockout notice and begun to pre-emptively cancel flights. We call on Air Canada to return to the bargaining table immediately and negotiate a fair deal with their workers.
We are currently advising all OPSEU/SEFPO members and staff not to book any air travel. Any air travel that is already booked for Aug 14th to the 22nd should be cancelled – we do not want you to be stranded in the event that a strike or lockout happens. Air Canada is issuing refunds and we encourage you to seek them for any immediate travel. We are working to ensure that any scheduled meetings that required travel will have virtual options. If travel by train, bus or a personal vehicle is possible, please consider making those alternative arrangements.
Rebooking or booking flights on other carriers like WestJet or Porter are not acceptable alternatives as accessing these airlines would likely require crossing CUPE picket lines. As trade unionists, we stand in solidarity with CUPE flight attendants and will not engage in any strike-breaking activities.
We will be following the situation closely and providing updates as new information becomes available.
JP Hornick and Laurie NancekivellOPSEU/SEFPO President and First Vice-President & Treasurer