August 5,2025
RED FM News Desk
Air Canada’s flight attendants have overwhelmingly voted in favour of potential strike action, with 99.7% supporting the move, according to their union, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). This decision sets the stage for a possible work stoppage later this month, as the union may issue a 72-hour strike notice starting August 16, following stalled contract negotiations in July.
CUPE represents more than 10,000 flight attendants at both Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge. It emphasized that the strike vote does not automatically trigger a walkout but signals the members’ readiness to escalate if necessary. Union president Wesley Lesosky stated that the vote demonstrates flight attendants demand for the airline to engage seriously in negotiations.
Since 2000, inflation in Canada has risen 169% and average full-time wages 210%. Yet entry-level Air Canada flight attendants’ pay has grown only 10%, just $3 per hour, in 25 years
Flight attendants are also unpaid for much of their work, including safety checks, handling medical or safety emergencies, and helping passengers board and deplane.
The push for job action reflects a broader wave of labor unrest among North American flight attendants, who are calling for increased wages and full compensation for all hours worked, including time on the ground before boarding, an area where current contracts fall short.
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