Front Burner What the Air Canada strike is really about
44 snips
Aug 18, 2025 Anis Heydari, a CBC senior business reporter based in Calgary, sheds light on the chaotic Air Canada strike where 10,000 flight attendants walked off the job, resulting in hundreds of canceled flights. He discusses the critical issues of wages and unremunerated ground work that fueled the strike. The conversation also covers the federal government's swift intervention mandating a return to work, raising concerns about labor rights and the influence on the bargaining process. Heydari reveals why this dispute is pivotal for airlines and workers across North America.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Chaos At Airports And Solidarity
- Airports were chaotic with thousands of stranded travellers and crowded picket lines this weekend.
- Other unions joined CUPE pickets, showing broader labour solidarity at airports.
Core Bargaining Issues
- Flight attendants are primarily fighting over wages and unpaid ground time called ‘ground pay’.
- Ground pay is especially contentious because many carriers historically didn't pay for on-ground work.
What Ground Pay Means
- Ground pay means being paid for time spent working while the plane is on the ground rather than only in the air.
- Flight attendants argue existing hourly pay no longer compensates for substantial pre- and post-flight work.