Air Canada has reached a tentative agreement with its flight attendants' union, ending a strike that left hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded. The strike, which began on Saturday, saw over 10,000 flight attendants walk off the job, demanding higher wages and compensation for unpaid ground work. The disruption affected more than 500,000 travelers globally, as Air Canada operates approximately 700 flights daily.

Union's Historic Fight

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing the flight attendants, announced the tentative deal early Tuesday after nine hours of negotiations facilitated by a government-appointed mediator. The union described the negotiations as a "historic fight" for the industry, emphasizing that "unpaid work is over." The proposed agreement includes immediate pay increases of between 8% and 12% and compensation for pre-flight ground time, a significant victory for the union.

Legal and Government Intervention

The strike escalated when CUPE defied orders from the Canadian Industrial Relations Board, which had deemed the strike unlawful and demanded a return to work. The union also rejected a government order to enter binding arbitration, accusing authorities of succumbing to corporate pressure. In response, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed relief over the resolution, stating his hope that the agreement would ensure fair compensation for flight attendants and end the disruption for Canadian families and visitors.

Gradual Resumption of Flights

Air Canada has begun resuming flights, although full service may take up to a week to restore due to aircraft and crew being out of position. The airline has advised passengers to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport. Air Canada President Michael Rousseau acknowledged the complexity of restarting operations and apologized for the inconvenience caused to customers.