US EditionAir Canada, union deadlocked despite government plea for deal to avert Saturday strike
More than 10,000 flight attendants may strike over pay disputes, risking cancellations of around 500 flights and widespread travel disruptions, officials said.
- Over 10,000 flight attendants employed by Air Canada are expected to initiate a strike at approximately 1 a.m. ET on Saturday, which could halt all operations for both the airline and its Rouge division.
- The strike comes after eight months of stalled contract negotiations between Air Canada and the union representing its flight attendants over issues such as wages and compensation for unpaid pre- and post-flight duties amid growing inflation.
- Air Canada started cancelling flights on Thursday, with about 500 cancellations planned by Friday, while the airline issued a lockout notice set to prevent attendants from working if no deal is reached.
- Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu called on both sides Friday to collaborate with federal mediators, stressing the urgency of reaching an agreement as Canadians are relying on a resolution. Meanwhile, the union remains willing to continue talks but does not support binding arbitration.
- The potential strike threatens disruptions for about 130,000 daily travelers, and Air Canada warns the restart could take a full week, highlighting the urgency of reaching an eleventh-hour agreement to avoid a shutdown.
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100 Articles
Business Groups Sound Alarm Over Potential Air Canada Shutdown, Citing ‘Significant Economic Damage’
Canada’s business community is sounding the alarm as Air Canada prepares to ground nearly all flights by Aug. 16 if no deal is reached with unionized flight attendants. The labour dispute has been ongoing since the start of this year over pay and work conditions, with around 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants who belong to the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) rejecting the airline’s most recent offer on Aug. 11. Unionized flight attend…
Guelph Mercury
Air Canada flight attendant strike: Who do you support in the ‘ground pay’ dispute?
A new survey from the Angus Reid Institute finds most Canadians polled support flight attendants in their dispute with Canada’s largest airline.
Air Canada faces strike threat as deadline approaches, leaving travellers in limbo
On the eve of a possible strike that could see roughly 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants walk off the job at 1 a.m. on Saturday, the country’s largest airline could come to a standstill. Flight staff say they will be prepared to trade the cabin aisle for the picket line if no deal is reached, […]
Associated Press News
Air Canada could shut down completely unless the airline and its flight attendants reach a deal
A complete shutdown of Air Canada is looming if the union representing the flight attendants of the country’s dominant air carrier and the airline fail to reach an agreement within hours.
Flight risk: Canadians side with flight attendants in ‘ground pay’ dispute with Air Canada - Angus Reid Institute
Cost concerns linger; only one-in-six would pay five per cent or more on airfare to fund pay increase August 15, 2025 – As hundreds of thousands of Air Canada ticket holders navigate alternative travel arrangements and brace for the impact of cancelled trips, new data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds the airline’s reputation appears to be rapidly losing…
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