TORONTO — An escalating labour dispute between Air Canada and its flight attendants is causing at least one analyst to question if union leaders at the bargaining table understand what their members want.
The airline’s 6,800 flight attendants rejected a tentative deal for the second time on Sunday and served strike notice which could see them walk of the job early Thursday morning.
Chris Murray of PI Financial says the second rejection of a tentative deal raises questions about union leaders’ ability to bargain in good faith.
Jeff Taylor, the president of CUPE’s Air Canada division, has said the second rejection shows how frustrated flight attendants are with the airline after years of giving concessions.
Meanwhile, Air Canada has said it is “perplexed and disappointed” by the second rejection.
It says it still hopes to avoid a work stoppage, but will maintain a partial schedule in the event of a strike.