Intensive Negotiations Underway to Secure Deal for Air Canada Flight Attendants as Both Sides Express Desire to Avoid Strike

MONTREAL – With a strike deadline approaching, Air Canada and its 10,000 unionized flight attendants are engaged in intensive, high-level negotiations, with both parties and the federal government focused on reaching a fair agreement and keeping Canada flying.

Despite the operational challenges posed by the looming deadline, a spokesperson for the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents the flight attendants, affirmed a commitment to the bargaining process, stating, “We’re here to bargain a deal, not to go on strike.”

This constructive sentiment is bolstered by the active involvement of the Canadian government. Patty Hajdu, the Minister of Jobs and Families, has met with both Air Canada and the union, urging them to “stay at the table and resolve this once and for all” to secure a lasting agreement.

The core of the negotiations centers on modernizing compensation to reflect the full scope of a flight attendant’s work, a positive trend already taking root across the North American airline industry. The union is seeking fair pay for tasks such as boarding passengers, an issue that has recently been successfully addressed in new labor agreements at major carriers like American Airlines and Alaska Airlines.

Public support for the flight attendants’ goals is also evident. Robyn Flynn, a passenger impacted by delays at Toronto’s Pearson airport, expressed her solidarity with the workers. “They deserve a salary increase… and if our flight gets cancelled, I 100% blame Air Canada, not the flight attendants,” she said, highlighting a broader public understanding of the need for fair labor practices.

While the prospect of a work stoppage has caused unavoidable disruptions, including flight cancellations, the focus remains firmly on finding a solution at the bargaining table. The ongoing talks represent a crucial opportunity to establish a new, industry-leading standard for employee compensation at Canada’s largest airline, ultimately aiming for a stronger, more stable future for both the company and its dedicated workforce.