Additional Coverage:
- Air Canada strike continues as flight attendants reject government return-to-work order (foxbusiness.com)
Air Canada Flight Attendants Strike Continues, Defying Order to Return to Work
Air Canada flight attendants remained on strike Sunday, grounding flights and leaving travelers stranded despite a government order to return to work. The strike, which began early Saturday, has already disrupted travel plans for over 100,000 passengers and forced the cancellation of approximately 240 flights scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing over 10,000 flight attendants, is demanding better pay and working conditions. A key issue is the current compensation model, where flight attendants are paid only when the aircraft is moving, receiving no compensation for boarding, deplaning, or ground delays. The union is seeking full compensation for this unpaid time.
The Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), at the request of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government, ordered the flight attendants back to work on Saturday. However, CUPE urged its members to defy the order, arguing it violates their charter rights.
The union maintains that 70% of its members are women, “100% of whom are forced to do hours of unpaid work.” CUPE has invited Air Canada back to the negotiating table, urging the airline to negotiate a fair deal rather than relying on government intervention.
Wesley Lesosky, president of the Air Canada component of CUPE, stated that no bargaining sessions were scheduled as of Saturday morning, despite months of on-and-off negotiations. “We are here because Air Canada forces us to work for free for hours and hours every day,” Lesosky said, “and we are not going to accept it anymore.”
Air Canada claims its proposed package would increase overall compensation by 38% over four years and make its flight attendants the best compensated in Canada. The airline contends its offer includes an 8% base wage increase and an additional 4% to 8% through a new ground pay formula, bringing hourly rates as high as 94 Canadian dollars ($69 USD) in the first year.
By 2027, senior flight attendants would earn an average of $63,000 USD annually, with about 20% earning $65,700 USD or more. The airline says it “remains engaged and committed to negotiate.”
While the airline maintains that its cabin crew already earns significantly more than competitors, the union argues that the company is only offering 50% pay for ground duties, not full hourly wages.
Air Canada is advising affected customers not to travel to the airport unless they have confirmed tickets on another airline. The company is offering refunds, travel credits, and rebooking options on other carriers, though availability is limited due to the peak travel season.