Air Transat flight attendants could go on strike as soon as January 3 if a new labor deal cannot be reached in the coming weeks.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Air Transat Component, which represents more than 2,100 Air Transat employees, said that 99.8% of members voted in favor of the strike mandate, “by far the highest tally” in its history.
The collective agreement for flight attendants in Montreal and Toronto expired on October 31, 2022. Negotiations between the union and the Montreal-based airline for a new deal began in late April and 33 negotiation sessions have been held to date.
The union is seeking increased compensation and to address the issue of unpaid work, among other issues.
"Over the past 15 years, our members have had to make significant sacrifices during challenging times for the industry. Now, faced with the dizzying rise in the cost of living and the industry's favourable prospects, they are ready to take action,” Dominic Levasseur, president of the Air Transat Component of CUPE, said in a statement.
“More than 50% of them have been forced to take on a second or even a third job to make ends meet, and their starting salary is only $26,577 per year.”
He added that it was still possible for the union and the airline to reach a tentative agreement which would avoid the strike over the next few weeks but in the event of a strike, it should be anticipated that all the airline’s flights would be cancelled.
“The ball is in the employer's court; they should be aware that our members have high expectations and are extremely motivated,” Levasseur said.
Air Transat spokesperson Andréan Gagné told CBC News that a strike mandate was a normal part of negotiations, and it was confident an agreement would be reached.
"The tone at the bargaining table remains cordial and respectful, and discussions are progressing well on both parties' respective demands," Gagné said in a statement.
"Transat maintains excellent working relations with its employees and CUPE, and intends to make every effort to find an agreement that will satisfy both parties."
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