Air Canada flight attendants set to vote on strike — what we know so far
Air Canada flight attendants could go on strike by mid-August if union members agree to the decision during a vote next week.
In an update on July 25, the Air Canada Component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) stated that the strike vote will start from July 28 to Aug. 5. Union members will have the option to vote online or by phone.
In an email to Daily Hive, a spokesperson for the Air Canada Component of CUPE stated, “If the membership authorizes a strike through a majority vote, the union will be in a legal position to initiate job action as of 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 16.”
In an interview shared on Instagram, Wesley Lesosky, president of CUPE’s Air Canada component, said that 92.3 per cent of members would support a strike.
CUPE represents over 10,000 flight attendants at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge with members based in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal. The union has been in talks with Air Canada to end unpaid work and wage freezes and to ensure wages are in line with the rising cost of living.
In a statement, Air Canada said, “Air Canada acknowledged today the beginning of its flight attendants’ vote to provide the union with a strike mandate, should an agreement not be reached between the company and CUPE through the ongoing negotiations. Such a vote is a normal step in the negotiation process and does not mean that any disruption will take place. In fact, a strike cannot take place before a 21-day cooling-off period, after the 60-day conciliation period has expired.”
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According to CUPE, despite posting $3.5 billion in profits in 2023-24, Air Canada “refuses to table a meaningful offer to address poverty-level wages for junior flight attendants who earn just $1,951 per month despite working full-time.”
“That’s below federal minimum wage,” they stated.
In addition, through its Unfair Canada campaign, the union has been lobbying the government to close loopholes in the labour code that allow airlines to force flight attendants to work an average of 35 hours per month without pay.
According to CUPE, the company is refusing to end the “outdated and unfair” practice of only paying flight attendants when the aircraft is in motion. As a result, flight attendants often perform unpaid duties, such as boarding and deplaning, conducting safety checks, and attending to medical emergencies, while on the ground.
“Flight attendants are proud to put on this uniform and look after passengers, but not for poverty wages, and certainly not for free,” the representative stated. “Flight attendants deserve fair compensation that respects and acknowledges the professionalism and dedication they bring to work every single day.”