Hundreds of cabin crew members demonstrated at major Canadian airports, demanding compensation for all hours worked as contract negotiations with the nation’s largest airline intensify.
TORONTO – Air Canada is facing mounting pressure as hundreds of its flight attendants held demonstrations at major Canadian airports on Monday to protest what they describe as widespread unpaid labor. The pickets come as crucial contract negotiations with the airline intensify, with a potential strike looming as early as August 16.
At Toronto Pearson International Airport, approximately 700 flight attendants, dressed in their uniforms, held signs with messages like “Unpaid work won’t fly.” The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents over 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants, identified unpaid work as a central issue in the ongoing bargaining.
The core of the dispute revolves around how cabin crews are compensated. Like many airlines, Air Canada has traditionally paid flight attendants only for the time a plane is in motion. The union is pushing for compensation for all on-duty hours, including mandatory tasks such as pre-flight safety checks, passenger boarding, deplaning, and managing delays on the tarmac.
“Attendants perform an average of 35 unpaid work hours monthly,” Shanyn Elliott, CUPE Strike Committee Chair, told reporters in Toronto. She highlighted that the current contract was signed a decade ago, causing wages to fall behind inflation and leading to financial hardship for some members, who she said have had to rely on food banks or live in shared bunk rooms.
A strike during the peak summer travel season could significantly impact Air Canada’s operations. The carrier recently reported a decline in its second-quarter profit, citing weaker passenger traffic to the U.S.
In a statement, Air Canada confirmed it remains at the bargaining table and is committed to reaching a negotiated agreement. The company said it aims to make its flight attendants the best-paid in the country while ensuring the long-term stability and growth of the airline.
The demonstrations on Monday did not disrupt flight operations.
Both parties are currently working with federal mediators to find a resolution. “We have faith in their ability to reach an agreement,” said Jennifer Kozelj, press secretary for Canada’s Minister of Jobs and Families. “Canadians expect them to work this out at the bargaining table.”
Travelers, meanwhile, are watching the situation closely. Jim Ken, a 73-year-old passenger flying to Malta, expressed support for the workers but also concern about potential travel disruptions for his return trip.
“I hope flight attendants get a fair contract and they deserve it,” he said. “I just hope everything goes smooth… for both sides.”
