Air Canada Flight Attendants Threaten Strike: 99.7% Back Job Action Ahead of Busy Travel Season
More than 10,000 Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flight attendants have voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike mandate, with 99.7% support from union members. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents the workers, announced that it could issue a 72-hour strike notice as early as August 16 if a deal isn’t reached soon.
The vote comes amid stalled contract negotiations that began earlier this year. Key issues include wages, working conditions, and pay for time spent on the ground before flights — a major sticking point that flight attendants argue is currently uncompensated.
Union president Wesley Lesosky called the result a clear message to the airline, urging Air Canada to return to the bargaining table with serious offers. The strike mandate satisfies all legal requirements for job action under Canadian labor law and could lead to major disruptions if no agreement is reached by mid-August.
Air Canada responded by saying it remains committed to reaching a fair agreement and believes there is still time to avoid a strike. However, the possibility of job action during one of the busiest travel periods of the year is raising concerns among travelers and industry watchers.
With the clock ticking, both sides face growing pressure to resolve the impasse before flight schedules — and passengers — are affected.
