The prospect of a systemwide work stoppage by Air Canada
’s unionized flight attendants loomed large on Friday with a strike deadline just hours away, despite a government plea for the two sides to return to the bargaining table.
Canada’s largest carrier has said it expects to cancel 500 flights by the end of the day, ahead of a threatened strike just before 1:00 a.m. ET on Saturday, leaving some 100,000 passengers to find travel alternatives.
Air Canada has asked the minority Liberal government of Prime Minister Mark Carney to order both sides into binding arbitration. The Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents the attendants, said it opposed the move.
“The mere prospect of ministerial intervention has had a chilling effect on Air Canada’s obligation to bargain in good faith,” said the union, which made clear in advance that it would reject the idea.
