Canada is the 2nd largest country in the world, and flight is often the only viable travel option. Its best airline has just suspended operations in the middle of a strike

The spokesperson for the Canadian Public Employees, Hugh Pouliot confirmed that the strike had started after the conclusion that no agreement was concluded, and the airline said shortly after it stopped operations.

A fight against a bitter contract between the largest airline in Canada and the union representing 10,000 of its on -board agents intensified on Friday while the union refused the airline’s request to conclude an arbitration led by the government, which would eliminate its right to strike and allow a third -party mediator to decide on the terms of a new contract.

A full closure will have an impact on around 130,000 people a day, and some 25,000 Canadians could be blocked daily abroad. Air Canada operates around 700 flights per day.

Keelin Pringnitz, from Ottawa, returned with his family from European holidays when they were blocked at Heathrow airport in London after the cancellation of flights. She said there was an option for online travelers to go to the United States, but he was told that there would be no additional help once they landed in the United States

“It did not go well with the line. No one seemed really interested, everyone seemed a little amused almost by suggestion, or exasperated, because it is a little ridiculous to offer to take passengers blocked in another country to shine them there,” she said.

The Montreal resident, Alex Laroche, 21, and his girlfriend have saved since Christmas for their European holidays. Now, their $ 8,000 trip with non -refundable accommodation is at stake while they are waiting to hear Air Canada on the fate of their flight on Saturday evening to Nice, France.

Air Canada’s Operation Head Mark Nasr said he could take up to a week to fully restart operations once a provisional agreement is concluded.

“So little progress has been made”

The on -board agents left the post around 1 a.m. on the HA on Saturday. Around the same time, Air Canada said that it would start to lock the airports on -board agents.

Federal Minister of Jobs Patty Hajdu met both the airline and the union on Friday evening and urged them to work harder to conclude a “once and for all” agreement.

“It is unacceptable that such little progress has been made. Canadians are counting on both parties to deploy their best efforts,” said Hajdu in a statement published on social networks.

The federal government forced the country’s two large railways to arbitration with their union last year during a work stoppage. The union which represents the rail workers is continuing, arguing that the government abolishes the leverage of a union in the negotiations.

The Canada Affairs Council also urged the government to impose binding arbitration in this case.

Ian Lee, an associate professor, Sprott School of Business at the University of Carleton, said that he expects the government to intervene within five days if the strike is not quickly settled. Lee said that the Government of Canada is still doing this in work -working disputes.

“They will intervene to end the strike. Why? Because it happened 45 times from 1950 to now,” said Lee. “It is because of the incredible dependence of Canadians.”

Canada is the second largest country in the world and flight is often the only viable option.

“We are such a huge country and it is so disruptive when there is a strike of all kinds in transport,” said Lee.

Travelers in limbo

Passengers whose trips are affected will be eligible to request a full refund on the website or mobile application of the airline, according to Air Canada.

The airline said it would also offer alternative travel options through other Canadian and foreign airlines when possible. But he warned that this could not guarantee immediate rehutation because thefts on other airlines are already complete “due to the peak of summer travel”.

Laroche said he was planning to reserve new flights with a different carrier, but he said most of them were almost full and cost more than the $ 3,000 they paid for their original tickets.

“At this point, it’s just a waiting game,” he said.

Laroche said that he was initially upset by the union’s decision to strike, but that he had a change of heart after reading the main problems at the center of contractual negotiations, including the issue of wages.

“Their salary is barely habitable,” said Laroche.

The sides are far removed in wages

Air Canada and the Canadian Public employees union have been in contractual talks for about eight months, but they have not yet concluded a provisional agreement.

The two parties say that they remain distant on the issue of remuneration and that unpaid on -board agents do it when the planes are not in the air.

The airline’s latest offer included a 38% increase in total remuneration, including benefits and four -year pensions, which said: “The best compensated on -board in Canada would have made.”

But the union postponed, saying that the 8% increase in the first year did not go far enough because of inflation.