The union representing around 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants has signalled its intent to strike in 72 hours.
Flight attendants could potentially walk off the job Saturday at 12:58 a.m. ET if a deal isn’t reached by then to avoid a work stoppage.
On Tuesday, Air Canada said it had reached an impasse with the union as the two sides remained far apart in contract talks.
The Air Canada component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees has said its main sticking points revolve around what it calls flight attendants’ “poverty wages” and unpaid labour when planes aren’t in the air.
The union rejected a proposal from the airline to enter a binding arbitration process, saying it prefers to negotiate a deal that its members can then vote on.
Air Canada says that if there are cancellations, it will notify customers via email and text message in advance of their travel, and they will be eligible for a full refund.