Air Canada has announced it will suspend flights starting Thursday ahead of a planned strike by its flight attendants over what they claim are “poverty wages” and unpaid labour for work done on the ground. The airline’s decision comes as negotiations with the union representing nearly 10,000 flight attendants have stalled.
According to Air Canada, the strike could affect around 130,000 customers daily, causing significant disruption during peak summer travel season. However, the airline claims it has offered a 38% increase in global compensation and is willing to pay employees 50% of their wage for work done before flights take off.
The union, however, says this still falls short of its demands. It recently rejected Air Canada’s proposal to resolve negotiations through arbitration, stating that the company refused to address its core issues. Air Canada has stated that it will gradually suspend flights to allow for an orderly shutdown and has made arrangements with other carriers to offer alternative travel options.
Canada’s federal minister for jobs and families, Patty Hajdu, is monitoring the situation but has declined to intervene, saying “the best agreements are the ones the parties reach themselves.” The airline’s decision marks a significant escalation in the dispute, which began months ago over pay and working conditions.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/13/air-canada-cancels-flights-strike