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Air travel in Canada is hitting major turbulence. Air Canada, the country's largest airline
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is canceling flights as a lockout of flight attendants begins this weekend
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The move comes after the Canadian Union of Public Employees voted to strike
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About 10,000 flight attendants will be off the job. After months of negotiations
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the two sides still have not reached a deal. The main sticking point, ground pay
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or compensation for work done when planes are not in the air
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Union President Wendy Lissoski says it's a matter of fairness. Air Canada says the union rejected a proposal Monday that included a 38 percent raise over four years plus benefits and addressed ground pay
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CEO Michael Russo says the lockout is a better option than an unplanned work stoppage that could create travel chaos
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The airline expects to ground 500 flights by midnight Friday and suspend all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights Saturday
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The airline carries about 130,000 passengers a day, including 25,000 Canadians returning from abroad
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and operates 430 daily flights to and from the United States. The company says rebooking on other airlines will be tough during peak summer travel
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Canada's Minister of Jobs and Families is urging both sides to go back to the table
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and wants the union to consider binding arbitration. Even if a deal is reached, Air Canada says it could take at least a week
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to get operations fully back up and running. For more unbiased updates, download the Straight Arrow News app or go to san.com
