As thousands of Air Canada flight attendants cast their final votes, the very notion of fair pay in the airline industry is coming in for a thorough inspection—one that could affect anyone relying on Canada’s largest carrier for work or travel.
On Tuesday, members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Air Canada component, representing no fewer than 10,000 flight attendants, are concluding a tense strike vote. This follows the end of a conciliation period with Air Canada in late July, after which union leaders declared negotiations had hit a wall.
The union’s argument is straightforward: after a decade under the same contract, flight attendants have seen their real earnings eroded by inflation and stagnant pay. And just to balance the books, they point out, cabin crews are required to perform mandatory duties before, during, and after flights—such as safety checks, boarding, and assisting passengers—with a substantial portion of these hours going unpaid.
“Significant purchasing power” has been lost, according to the union, and the current standoff is about more than pay—it is a push to end long-standing practices of unpaid work. With Air Canada operating over 500 domestic flights each day, as well as hundreds of trips to the U.S. and international destinations, any disruption could send ripples across the country’s airports.
The vote began on July 28 and closes at 2 p.m. eastern Tuesday; results are expected in the evening. Should the union secure a strong strike mandate, a 21-day cooling-off period follows, as required by law. The earliest possible date a strike could be formally announced is mid-August, pending a 72-hour notice.
For Barrie residents planning a trip to Vancouver or relatives flying in for a summer wedding, the stakes could not be clearer. This isn’t just about numbers on a paycheque. It’s about acknowledgment of the essential, often invisible work that keeps Canada’s skies friendly—and ensuring the people in those navy uniforms earn a wage that reflects that reality.
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Air Canada flight attendants cast their final ballots in strike vote
