Air Canada suspends more than 800 unvaccinated workers under new federal rules – CBC

Airline says 96% of employees are fully vaccinated

Nov 03, 2021

Air Canada has suspended more than 800 employees for not being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in line with federal rules.

The vast majority of Air Canada’s 27,000 cabin crew, customer service agents and others have received both shots, chief executive Michael Rousseau said Tuesday.

“Our employees have done their part, with now over 96 per cent fully vaccinated,” he said on a conference call with investors. “The employees who are not vaccinated or do not have a medical or other permitted exemption have been put on unpaid leave.”

The layoffs are “across the company” rather than concentrated in any particular job, spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick said in an email.

The proportions align with those at WestJet Airlines, where fewer than four per cent of workers — less than 300 out of 7,300 — are unvaccinated, the company said in an email.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-vaccine-suspensions-1.6235222