Air Canada’s Flight Attendants Prepare To Strike

More than 10,000 Air Canada (AC) flight attendants are preparing to go on strike Aug. 16 if a new collective agreement isn’t reached between their union and the airline.

Air Canada faces a deadline of Aug. 15 to reach a deal with its flight attendants or face a systemwide shutdown that would seriously disrupt air travel across the country.

Flight attendants are reportedly mobilizing for the strike at major Canadian airports in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary.

The flight attendants are represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). If no deal is reached with Air Canada, the workers could walk off the job at 12:01 a.m. ET on Aug. 16.

Reportedly, the union and airline remain divided on wages and unpaid work as flight attendants claim they are required to do many duties without pay.

Air Canada has reportedly offered a 32.5% wage increase for the flight attendants, which the union has rejected as insufficient.

In a statement, Air Canada said it remains at the negotiating table and is focused on achieving a deal with CUPE and avoiding a strike that would ground its aircraft.

The potential strike comes after 99.7% of Air Canada’s flight attendants voted in favour of a job action. By law, the union must provide 72 hours’ notice of any strike action.

Air Canada’s stock has declined 14% this year to trade at $19.32 per share in Toronto.