Description: Air Canada flight attendants have rejected a tentative contract and have given strike notice. The federal government has promised back-to-work legislation.

Source: The Toronto Star.

Date: 10/11/2011

Link: http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1067829–air-canada-flight-attendants-seem-poised-for-at-least-short-strike

Related links:

• Bloomberg story
• CBC story
• Earlier update on Ottawa’s use of back-to-work legislation
• Earlier update on the tentative agreement
• Statement from Air Canada
• Statement from CUPE

Questions for discussion:

• What are the issues in this dispute?
• Can you think of compromises on these issues that would leave both sides reasonably happy – or, at least, equally unhappy?
• Do you think the threat of back-to-work legislation affected the attendants’ decision to reject the tentative agreement?
• Why or why not?
• After reviewing the related links above, outline the likely effects of back-to-work legislation on both sides.