As Air Canada flight attendants prepare for a nationwide day of action on Monday, the possibility of a strike looms large. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing Air Canada flight attendants, is in the middle of tense negotiations with the airline. If no agreement is reached soon, a strike could happen as early as August 16, following a 72-hour notice period.
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Labour expert Barry Eidlin, associate professor of sociology at McGill University, shared insights on the challenging road ahead for both parties. Speaking to CTV Your Morning, Eidlin emphasized that this round of bargaining involves a decade’s worth of accumulated issues since the last contract expired in March. “There’s a lot of issues that accumulate over a 10-year contract that need to be addressed,” he said. “So that’s going to take a high-pressure situation to actually reach a deal.”
The union’s resolve is clear. On August 5, Air Canada flight attendants voted overwhelmingly—99.7 percent—in favor of strike action if necessary. The day of action scheduled for Monday is a demonstration of unity rather than an attempt to disrupt flights. CUPE members will gather in uniform at airports in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver to raise awareness about their demands for fair treatment.
According to Eidlin, this silent protest serves two key purposes: it escalates pressure on Air Canada in negotiations and helps build public support. “I doubt many Canadians are aware of the day-to-day working life of the flight attendants that are serving them on these flights and particularly are unaware of the core demand that they only start getting paid when the door of the plane closes,” he noted.
Flight attendants are calling for higher wages and compensation for unpaid work, including time spent boarding, deplaning, and handling medical emergencies onboard. Shanyn Elliott, co-chair of the union’s mobilization committee, highlighted that federally mandated safety checks performed by flight attendants currently go uncompensated.
Union president Wesley Lesosky reiterated that the objective is a “fair contract,” but also made it clear that the union is ready to strike if Air Canada does not meet their demands with respect and genuine negotiation.
Air Canada has acknowledged the strike vote as a typical part of collective bargaining and emphasized its commitment to reaching a fair agreement. The airline expressed a desire to balance recognizing the contributions of flight attendants with maintaining the company’s competitiveness and long-term growth.
With contract talks ongoing, the coming days will be crucial. Both sides face pressure to avoid the disruptions a strike would cause. However, given the long list of issues and the firm stance of the union, reaching a deal before the strike deadline will require serious compromise.
As the Air Canada strike 2025 scenario develops, passengers and industry watchers alike are closely following the negotiations, hoping for a resolution that keeps flights running smoothly while addressing the legitimate concerns of frontline workers.