Air Canada and the flight attendants union resume negotiations for the first time since the strike commenced
Air Canada's strike by over 10,000 flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), has reached a temporary resolution with a mediated agreement. However, the core dispute over wages and compensation for unpaid work persists, leaving the outcome of the union members' vote uncertain.
The strike, which began on August 17, 2025, followed the expiration of the previous 10-year collective bargaining agreement in March. Flight attendants voted near unanimously in favour of striking due to their dissatisfaction with the wage offers they deemed inadequate.
The federal Liberal government issued a back-to-work order after just 12 hours, declaring the strike unlawful. Despite this, the flight attendants defied the order, leading to significant cancellations—approximately 3,000 flights daily, affecting around 130,000 passengers. The disruptions caused daily losses estimated at $43 million for Air Canada.
The primary dispute issues revolved around wages and compensation for unpaid work. Air Canada had offered a 38% wage increase over four years, including a 25% raise in the first year. However, the union deemed this offer "below inflation, below market value, below minimum wage," with only half pay for some currently unpaid duties. The union aimed for wage parity with Air Transat employees, who are the highest-paid flight attendants in Canada after their 2024 contract.
After about three days of strike-induced disruptions, the parties reached a mediated agreement overseen by an independent mediator. Air Canada began gradually resuming flights on August 19, a process expected to take 7 to 10 days due to logistical repositioning of crew and aircraft.
Despite the mediated deal, there is strong opposition among flight attendants to the proposed contract, primarily over the wage provisions. Union leadership acknowledged member frustration but viewed the deal as protecting key gains, especially since rejecting it would lead to forced arbitration on wages and prevent further strikes during the voting period.
The outcome of the membership vote remains uncertain, with some members threatening to reject the deal. Rejecting the tentative agreement would mean the wage issues are resolved through arbitration while the rest of the issues in the contract move forward.
The summer travel season, peak for air travel, has been significantly affected by the strike, causing inconvenience to thousands of passengers. Air Canada operates around 700 flights per day, and the strike has led to the cancellation of over 1,200 domestic and 1,300 international flights since last Thursday.
Passengers whose flights are impacted by the strike can request a full refund on the airline's website or mobile app. Those stranded, like Montreal resident Robert Brzymowski and his family who have been stuck in Prague since Saturday, are facing missed school days, lost job opportunities, and unpaid weeks.
The talks between Air Canada and the union will continue as the union members cast their votes. The fate of the tentative agreement hangs in the balance, with the future of Air Canada's flight attendants and their compensation at stake.
