Air Canada flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), have issued a 72-hour strike notice to the airline, potentially leading to a work stoppage on August 16, 2024. In response, Air Canada has announced a corresponding 72-hour lock-out notice, indicating preparations to suspend flights in anticipation of the strike. This situation marks the first complete shutdown of Air Canada due to labor disputes since the pilots’ strike in 1998.
The looming strike could significantly disrupt Air Canada’s operations, particularly during the peak summer travel season. The airline, along with its regional partner Air Canada Rouge, serves approximately 130,000 passengers daily, including around 25,000 travelers returning to Canada from abroad. Under Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Rights, passengers are entitled to certain protections in the case of flight cancellations, ensuring they receive fair treatment and compensation.
Passengers are particularly concerned about the availability of seats on other airlines, as Air Canada is obligated to secure alternate arrangements for those affected by cancellations. The potential for a shortage of capacity could lead to cancelled vacations and disrupted family gatherings, with the airline prepared to issue refunds to passengers unable to find suitable travel alternatives.
Negotiations between CUPE and Air Canada have been ongoing since March, but both parties have reached an impasse on key issues, including wages and working conditions. CUPE has highlighted that junior flight attendants often earn significantly less than the Canadian minimum wage. According to analyses of collective agreement wage rates, flight attendants would require a wage increase of approximately 32 to 34 percent to maintain their purchasing power from 2014, adjusted for inflation.
The union claims that Air Canada compensates flight attendants solely for the time when the aircraft’s brakes are released during departure until they are applied upon arrival. Consequently, flight attendants perform around 35 hours of unpaid duties each month, including work before boarding and after deplaning.
Efforts to address the issue of unpaid work have been ongoing. Notably, Bill C-415, introduced by NDP MP Bonita Zarrillo in October 2024, aimed to amend the Canada Labour Code to require employers to compensate flight attendants for all pre-flight and post-flight duties, in addition to mandatory training at full pay. While the bill received First Reading in Parliament, it did not advance further and expired at the end of the parliamentary session in January 2025. Nevertheless, support for similar legislation remains robust, as evidenced by a recent letter from the Leader of the Opposition to the Minister of Labour on August 5.
Recent discussions have underscored the need for improved working conditions and equitable pay structures for flight attendants. A February 2025 article in The Conversation Canada emphasized the importance of addressing unpaid labor in the industry. This conversation aligns with the actions of several airlines that have begun to implement compensation for work performed outside traditional flight hours. For instance, Delta Airlines initiated changes in 2022, followed by American Airlines in 2024, and United Airlines is currently awaiting ratification of a contract that includes similar provisions.
The stakes are high for both CUPE and Air Canada as negotiations continue. CUPE has made its goals clear, advocating for wage increases to achieve a living wage, particularly for junior flight attendants, and for compensation for currently unpaid work. These objectives have been reinforced by a strikingly high 99.7 percent vote in favor of a strike if negotiations fail.
Air Canada’s strategy appears to mirror its previous negotiations with pilots, which involved government intervention to expedite an agreement. The airline ultimately conceded to many of the pilots’ demands late in the negotiation process. With a strike deadline approaching on August 16, it remains to be seen if Air Canada will adopt a similar approach this time.
The financial implications of a potential strike could be substantial, with estimates suggesting daily losses between $50 million and $60 million. Such a financial burden would likely prompt Air Canada to return to the negotiation table swiftly.
As the situation develops, the impact on Air Canada and its passengers remains a pressing concern, with stakeholders closely monitoring the outcome of these critical negotiations.
