Air Canada union backs off strike threat

For more than 24 hours information has been going back and fourth.

The federal government says there will be no strike. But the flight attendants’ union insisted earlier today that they ‘could’ and ‘would’ walk off the job at midnight if a deal isn’t reached. Then late this afternoon things changed again. The Canada Industrial Relations Board weighed in, saying ‘no strike is allowed.’

In response, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents 6800 flight attendants, says they will not go strike as previously planned.

Federal labour minister Lisa Raitt put out this statement:

“As a negotiated agreement is unlikely in the near future and the collective bargaining process has broken down, the Minister of Labour has asked the CIRB to consider either imposing an agreement upon the parties or sending Air Canada and CUPE to binding arbitration. Both the union and the employer must continue their normal work activities until the matter of maintenance of activities has been decided upon by the CIRB.”

Air Canada officials say it will be business as usual at airports, and all flights will continue to operate on schedule.

Video: Cristina Tenaglia reports: