Air Canada Strike Grounds Friday Thursday

By Elke Porter | WBN News Vancouver | August 13, 2025
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Air Canada passengers are bracing for widespread flight cancellations and travel disruptions as more than 10,000 flight attendants prepare to walk off the job at 12:58 a.m. ET Saturday, August 16, 2025, following the breakdown of contract negotiations. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing flight attendants at both Air Canada mainline and Rouge operations, issued a 72-hour strike notice on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, after declaring an impasse in talks with Canada’s largest airline.

Air Canada has responded by initiating a phased shutdown of operations starting Thursday, August 14, to provide travellers with advance warning and minimize the risk of passengers being stranded.

The flight attendants delivered a significant setback to management’s hopes for a negotiated settlement, voting 99.7 percent in favour of strike action—one of the strongest strike mandates in recent Canadian labour history. The overwhelming support underscores deep frustration among cabin crew over compensation and working conditions.

Background of the Dispute

Contract negotiations have been ongoing for eight months, with flight attendants pushing for significant pay increases and improved working conditions. Key sticking points include ground pay—compensation for time spent at airports before and after flights, such as safety checks and boarding duties—along with wage increases to match inflation and industry standards. CUPE has highlighted that flight attendants perform approximately 35 hours of unpaid work per month, including critical safety-related tasks.

Air Canada management claims it has offered a 38 percent total compensation increase over four years, including a 25 percent raise in the first year, specifically addressing ground pay concerns, pensions, benefits, and crew rest improvements without requesting concessions. However, union representatives have rejected the proposal as insufficient, arguing that it remains below inflation, market value, and minimum wage standards, and does not fully compensate for all ground duties, particularly safety and security tasks, which are paid at only 50 percent of the hourly rate.

The airline has also proposed binding third-party arbitration to resolve the dispute, but CUPE has rejected this option, preferring to maintain pressure through strike action to ensure member input and challenge unpaid work practices.

Path to Resolution

Both parties could still reach a last-minute agreement before the Saturday deadline. Air Canada has indicated it remains committed to negotiations and has asked the federal government to intervene by directing binding arbitration under section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, citing recent precedents in other labour disputes. CUPE, however, prefers to continue negotiations at the bargaining table to preserve democratic participation.

The federal government could invoke back-to-work legislation, though this would represent a significant intervention in collective bargaining rights. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government would face political pressure from labour groups if it moves to end the strike through legislative action.

For a deal to materialize, Air Canada would likely need to significantly improve its compensation offer, while the union might need to moderate some demands to reach a middle ground before operations cease entirely. Air Canada has warned that the strike could affect 130,000 daily passengers, including 25,000 Canadians returning from abroad (or one soccer player arriving here from Munich...), and has begun arranging alternative travel options with other carriers, though capacity is limited due to peak summer demand.

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Air Canada Strike Grounds Thursday Flights

Background of the Dispute

Path to Resolution

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