As contract negotiations intensify, flight attendants at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge are warning of a potential strike if issues surrounding wages, unpaid work, and working conditions are not resolved. Representing more than 10,000 employees, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has flagged March 31, 2025—the expiration date of the current collective agreement—as a critical deadline.
Flight attendants have been working under the same collective agreement for the past decade, which they say fails to reflect the realities of their labor. Key grievances include unpaid work hours during boarding, deplaning, and safety checks, as attendants are compensated only while flights are in motion.
“As workers, we’re at a breaking point,” said Wesley Lesosky, president of the Air Canada Component of CUPE. “Flight attendants are largely only paid while the flight is in motion, working for free during critical tasks. Air Canada needs to respect its workers and pay them fairly.”
A strike would have widespread implications, particularly at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Air Canada’s largest operational hub. Other major airports across Canada would also face disruptions, affecting thousands of passengers and potentially straining Canada’s already-busy travel infrastructure.
CUPE is advocating for fair wages, better working conditions, and an end to unpaid labor. Lesosky emphasized the union’s resolve as negotiations ramp up: “As we head into contract negotiations, we want to show Air Canada they need to give their workers the respect and the proper pay they deserve.”
With the expiration of the current agreement looming, travelers and industry stakeholders are closely monitoring the negotiations. Both CUPE and Air Canada have yet to confirm next steps if a resolution isn’t reached before the March 31 deadline.
For now, the possibility of a strike underscores the growing tension between labor and management at Canada’s largest airline, leaving passengers to brace for potential disruptions in the coming months.