The union representing Air Canada flight attendants says they’ve served the company with a 72-hour strike notice, while advising members the airline has issued its own plan to lockout employees early Saturday morning.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Air Canada component announced the move to members shortly after midnight Wednesday, saying the strike notice had been issued at 12:58 a.m. Eastern daylight time.

“This decision was not made lightly, but it is necessary,” the union wrote in a bargaining update. “We are ready. We are strong and we will not back down.”

Wesley Lesosky, president of CUPE’s Air Canada component, said in the strike notice to the company that it had ceased to engage in “meaningful dialogue” on critical issues.

“Regrettably, the Company ceased to

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