The threat of a strike by Air Canada flight attendants is becoming increasingly real, with contract negotiations between the airline and the union representing roughly 10,000 cabin crew members stalled and tensions rising ahead of the busy summer travel season.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents the flight attendants, confirmed that the collective agreement expired on March 31 and that no meaningful progress has been made in talks with the airline. On May 14, the union officially requested that Canada’s federal Minister of Labour initiate mediation to help resolve the impasse.
In response, Air Canada issued a statement attempting to reassure travellers: “We are doing our best to reach a fair and amicable agreement in accordance with Canada’s labour laws. Customers can book flights with confidence and travel will be safe.”
However, the union warns that the clock is ticking. Once a federal mediator is assigned, a 60-day mediation period begins, followed by a mandatory 21-day cooling-off period. If no agreement is reached during that time, the union is legally allowed to call a strike with just 72 hours’ notice.
CUPE Air Canada chair Wesley Lesowsky outlined the union’s top concern: fair compensation. “Air Canada only pays cabin crew when the aircraft is moving, leaving all pre- and post-flight tasks such as boarding, disembarking, safety checks, and assisting passengers unpaid,” he said in a statement. Lesowsky also revealed that entry-level cabin crew earn just $1,951.30 per month — an amount he described as “barely enough to make a living.”
He added that the issue is not unique to Air Canada but reflects a wider crisis in the aviation industry. “Low wages and unpaid work practices are threatening the sustainability of the cabin crew profession,” he said, calling for legislative reform to close a loophole in the Canada Labour Code that allows airlines to require roughly 35 hours of unpaid work per month.
“It’s hard to call this a job anymore,” Lesowsky said, warning that unless substantial changes are made, the airline industry could face a staffing crisis. With the summer travel season fast approaching, CUPE is urging both the federal government and Air Canada to act swiftly to prevent widespread disruption.
If a strike occurs, it will mark a major blow to Air Canada and could lead to significant delays or cancellations during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.