Flight staff of Air Canada consider a vote for a work stoppage
Air Canada Faces Potential Flight Attendant Strike Over Contract Disputes
Air Canada's flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), are voting on a strike mandate from July 29th to August 5th, 2025, due to unresolved contract disputes. The union includes about 10,000 flight attendants working for Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge.
The current collective agreement expired on March 31, 2025, and after more than seven months of negotiations and a conciliation process with federally appointed mediators that ended without agreement, the union now has legal authority to pursue strike action if members approve the mandate.
Key issues driving the strike vote include pay and starting salaries considered too low, unpaid work, particularly pre-flight safety and cabin tasks, inadequate per diem allowances, pension improvements, job security and work rules, and prone rest policies.
CUPE has stated that its strength lies in its unity and that it will accept nothing less than the contract it deserves. The union's negotiating committee is seeking a strike mandate to push for an industry-leading contract through collective strength.
Air Canada reaffirms its commitment to the negotiation process and aims to reach a fair and equitable agreement with CUPE. The airline does not anticipate any disruptions due to the strike vote. However, if a strike occurs, it could lead to significant disruption, causing canceled or delayed flights and inconvenience to travelers, especially during the busy summer travel season.
It is important to note that no strike can occur before the 21-day cooling-off period and the expiration of the 60-day conciliation period. Air Canada acknowledges the vote as a normal part of the negotiation process but warns that a strike would disrupt operations.
The situation remains dynamic, with both sides expressing willingness to negotiate further, but the strike vote signifies escalating tensions in the labor dispute. In October 2021, Air Canada's pilots voted in favor of a contract providing a cumulative wage increase of nearly 42% over four years.
The airline and CUPE have not yet reached an agreement during the conciliation process. Air Canada's pilots had previously voted for a strike mandate, but a work stoppage was averted after their union reached an agreement with the airline before the end of the cooling-off period. It remains to be seen whether a similar resolution can be reached with the flight attendants.
[1] CBC News. (2025, August 1). Air Canada flight attendants vote on strike mandate amid contract disputes. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-flight-attendants-strike-vote-1.6119759
[2] Global News. (2025, July 30). Air Canada flight attendants vote on strike mandate amid unresolved contract disputes. Retrieved from https://globalnews.ca/news/8831034/air-canada-flight-attendants-strike-vote/
[3] National Post. (2025, August 1). Air Canada flight attendants vote on strike mandate amid contract disputes. Retrieved from https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/air-canada-flight-attendants-vote-on-strike-mandate-amid-contract-disputes
[4] Toronto Star. (2025, August 1). Air Canada flight attendants vote on strike mandate amid contract disputes. Retrieved from https://www.thestar.com/business/2025/08/01/air-canada-flight-attendants-vote-on-strike-mandate-amid-contract-disputes.html
- Despite Air Canada's assurance that the ongoing strike vote among its flight attendants will not lead to immediate disruptions, a potentially protracted industrial action could significantly impact the French aerospace industry, given Air Canada's extensive business connections.
- As the finance sector closely monitors the escalating contract disputes between Air Canada and its unionized flight attendants, industry analysts express growing concerns about potential financial repercussions, especially if a strike ensues during the busy summer travel season.
