News
Talks ongoing at Air Canada as strike looms
Sept. 19, 2011, Montreal - The clock is ticking down to a union-imposed strike deadline for Air Canada's flight attendants, but talks remains ongoing.
September 19, 2011 By The Canadian Press
The Canadian Union of Public Employees says the airline presented a counter-offer to a proposal the union made on Saturday.
About 68-hundred flight attendants represented by CUPE have been without a contract since March 31st.
They gave strike notice on Friday and are threatening to walk off the job early Wednesday morning if their demands aren't met.
In August, they resoundingly rejected a tentative deal CUPE negotiated with the airline, forcing the two sides back to the drawing board.
If there is a strike, it could be short-lived.
In June, a walkout by the airline's customer service agents lasted just three days after Ottawa indicated it would legislate them back to work.
Labour Minister Lisa Raitt has said she wanted to meet with the two sides today if a deal wasn't hammered out over the weekend, but has not said if back-to-work legislation is in the cards.
Air Canada says it will operate a partial schedule in the event of a strike, but has not elaborated on its contingency plans.
