More than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants went on strike at around 1 a.m. Saturday, after failing to reach a new agreement with the airline.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) gave a 72-hour strike notice on Wednesday, as the sides couldn't agree on issues such as wage increases and ground pay. Air Canada responded by saying it would lock out workers, and began winding down operations on Thursday, suspending over 500 flights.
Earlier in the week, Air Canada formally proposed to CUPE that the parties use binding arbitration to negotiate the renewal of a 10-year collective agreement. However, CUPE declined to use arbitration, saying it wants to stay at the negotiating table and have the two sides come to an agreement themselves.
CUPE says it will now hold picket lines at the Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver airports, while also holding ad hoc lines in Halifax, Winnipeg and Ottawa.
Air Canada estimates that 130,000 customers will be affected each day of a strike.