Air Canada flight attendants, as indicated by a union, are refusing to return to work despite the strike being officially labeled as unlawful
The three-day long strike by Air Canada flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), has come to an end after a mediated settlement was reached on August 19, 2025. The strike, which began on August 16, had caused significant disruptions for hundreds of thousands of Canadians and visitors.
The strike was primarily over wage increases and unpaid work issues. Air Canada had begun canceling flights from August 14 to allow for an orderly shutdown, issuing a lockout notice and arranging refunds and alternative travel for affected customers.
After several days of negotiations, a mutually agreed-upon mediator oversaw the settlement, leading to the immediate return of about 10,000 flight attendants to work. The airline warned that full restoration of service might take 7 to 10 days due to operational complexities following the shutdown.
Canada's Prime Minister, Mark Carney, had urged both parties to resolve the issue as quickly as possible due to the disruption caused. Despite the settlement, it is unclear what recourse the board or the government has if the union continues to refuse to return to work.
The union, CUPE, has turned down Air Canada's request to enter into government-directed arbitration. The union's president, Mark Hancock, stated that the flight attendants will not return to work and that planes will not be flying on Tuesday afternoon.
Air Canada operates around 700 flights per day, and the strike has been affecting approximately 130,000 travelers daily at the peak of the summer travel season. The strike is affecting approximately 50,000 customers daily.
One of the affected passengers, John Alderman, a diabetic, is worried about running out of insulin during this time. He and his wife, Lois, have been told they may be stranded in Toronto for another 4 to 5 days due to the strike.
The strike has also been met with criticism from labor leaders who are objecting to the government's repeated use of a law that cuts off workers' right to strike and forces them into arbitration. The strike was declared illegal by the Canada Industrial Relations Board.
Air Canada's latest offer included a 38% increase in total compensation over four years, which the union deemed insufficient due to inflation. Passengers whose flights are impacted can request a full refund on the airline's website or mobile app.
As of now, Air Canada's chief executive, Michael Rousseau, is hoping for a quick resolution but has not yet made a decision about resuming flights. The union and the airline will continue negotiations to reach a long-term agreement.
References:
- Air Canada flight attendants strike, causing widespread disruptions
- Air Canada flight attendants go on strike over wages and unpaid work
- Air Canada, union reach mediated agreement to end strike
- Air Canada's operations gradually resuming after strike ends
- The mediation in the Air Canada strike, a general-news event, led to a settlement that ended the three-day long walkout by flight attendants, which was primarily about wage increases and unpaid work issues.
- Despite Air Canada's latest offer including a 38% increase in total compensation over four years, the business sector is closely watching the ongoing negotiations between Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) for a long-term agreement, with potential implications for future labor disputes in the finance and sports industries.
