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Air Canada Flight Attendants Approve Strike Mandate Amid Contract Dispute

Air Canada Flight Attendants Edge Closer to Strike Action More than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants have overwhelmingly voted—99.7% in favour—to grant their union a strike mandate, signaling growing frustration over stalled contract negotiations. The vote, conducted by the Air Canada Component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), does not guarantee a strike but empowers the union to call one if necessary. A legal strike could begin as early as August 16, following the expiration of a mandatory cooling-off period. Union president Wesley Lesosky criticized the airline for dragging its feet on key issues, including wages, unpaid hours, and working conditions. CUPE argues that flight attendants are only compensated for time between takeoff and landing, excluding critical duties like safety checks, boarding, and deplaning. Air Canada responded by acknowledging the vote as a standard part of the negotiation process and expressed its commitment to reaching a fair agreemen...
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TSX Tumbles as Rate Hike Fears Loom

The Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) closed at its lowest level in two weeks on Friday, as investors worried about the possibility of higher interest rates in the near future. The benchmark S&P/TSX Composite Index dropped 0.8% to 20,490.36 points, its worst performance since October 6.

The main factor behind the sell-off was the uncertainty over the timing and pace of monetary policy tightening by the Bank of Canada (BoC) and the U.S. Federal Reserve. Both central banks have signaled that they are ready to start reducing their massive bond-buying programs, which have supported the economic recovery from the pandemic.

However, the exact timing and magnitude of the tapering remain unclear, as the central banks balance the risks of inflation and growth. The BoC is expected to announce its decision on October 27, while the Fed will meet on November 2-3.

The prospect of less stimulus and higher borrowing costs weighed on the sentiment of investors, who sold off sectors that are sensitive to interest rates, such as financials, utilities and real estate. The energy sector also declined, despite a rise in oil prices, as some profit-taking took place after a strong rally in recent weeks.

On the positive side, some sectors that benefit from higher interest rates, such as materials and industrials, managed to post gains. The technology sector also outperformed, as some investors sought refuge in growth stocks.

The TSX was also influenced by the corporate earnings season, which kicked off this week. Some of the notable results included Shopify, which beat analysts' expectations and raised its full-year outlook; Rogers Communications, which missed estimates and lowered its guidance; and Canadian National Railway, which reported a mixed quarter and faced a strike threat from its workers.

The TSX is still up 16% year-to-date, but it has lagged behind its U.S. peers, which have reached record highs this month. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite both gained 0.2% on Friday, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.1%.



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