Air Canada Flight Attendants Demand Better Pay, Threaten Strike

Over 10,000 flight attendants at Air Canada are preparing for a potential strike scheduled for August 2025. This action aims to address concerns over “unpaid work and poverty wages” following unsuccessful negotiations with the airline, which is Canada’s largest carrier.

The Air Canada Component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing these flight attendants, reported that an impressive 99.7% of members have voted in favor of strike action if a satisfactory agreement isn’t reached.

The union emphasized that this result reflects the “deep frustration” among flight attendants, attributing it to the airline’s unwillingness to engage in fair negotiations on critical issues.

“The company seems more interested in delaying progress than addressing the essential matters for our members,” stated Wesley Lesosky, President of the Air Canada Component of CUPE. “Now, the flight attendants have made their voices heard, showing it’s time for serious negotiations.”

Underpaid Despite Airline Profits

Currently, the union is negotiating a new contract with Air Canada after the previous ten-year agreement expired. They pointed out that “Air Canada flight attendants are not compensated for a significant amount of their work time.”

In the last 25 years, while inflation surged by 169% and full-time wages in Canada increased by 210%, the wages of entry-level flight attendants at Air Canada have risen by a mere 10%, equivalent to just $3 per hour.

The union argues that a full-time entry-level flight attendant earns below the minimum wage.

“While the airline continues to impose hidden fees on travelers, it is exploiting its own workforce by underpaying flight attendants or failing to compensate them for essential job duties,” Lesosky remarked.

The union also noted that Air Canada stands as one of the most profitable companies in Canada. Lesosky asserted that the airline “has the capacity to provide fair wages without burdening the public with increased costs.”

On July 28, 2025, Air Canada reported operating revenues exceeding $5.6 billion for the second quarter of 2025—$113 million higher than the same period last year.

Airline Committed to Negotiate

Responding to the situation, Air Canada affirmed its commitment to the bargaining process and expressed eagerness to continue discussions with the union.

The airline highlighted its determination to forge a “fair and equitable collective agreement” that supports the company’s competitiveness and long-term growth.

“Air Canada firmly believes there is ample time to reach such an agreement and avoid disrupting the plans of hundreds of thousands of travelers,” stated the airline’s communication.

The union announced that it will issue a 72-hour strike notice on August 16, 2025, if the negotiations hit a deadlock and a majority of members back the strike.