Core Points - Air Canada flight attendants are on strike, leading to the grounding of most of the airline's 700 daily flights and stranding over 100,000 passengers [1][2][9] - The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) is demanding better pay and working conditions, particularly full compensation for unpaid ground time [5][8][12] - Air Canada has proposed a compensation package that includes a 38% overall increase over four years, but the union argues that the offer does not adequately address ground duty pay [12][15][16] Summary by Category Strike and Impact - The strike began shortly after 1 a.m. on Saturday, resulting in the cancellation of approximately 240 flights scheduled for Sunday afternoon [1][2] - The airline had to delay its service restart plans due to the ongoing strike [2][9] Union Demands - CUPE represents over 10,000 flight attendants and is advocating for full pay during boarding, deplaning, and ground delays, which they currently do not receive [5][8] - The union claims that the strike is a response to Air Canada's practice of requiring employees to work unpaid hours [9][12] Government Intervention - The Canadian government intervened by asking the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to impose binding arbitration, which the union opposed [6][8] - The government has the option to seek a court order to enforce compliance with the CIRB's order [8] Compensation Proposal - Air Canada's proposal includes a 12% to 16% increase in hourly rates, with senior flight attendants potentially earning an average of 87,000 Canadian dollars ($63,000 U.S.) by 2027 [16] - The airline claims that its compensation package would make its flight attendants the best compensated in Canada, with hourly rates rising to 94 Canadian dollars ($69 U.S.) in the first year [15][16]