Flight attendants and Air Canada have reached a preliminary agreement, paving the way for the airline's reopening.
Air Canada's five-day strike, which began on August 16, 2025, has come to an end after the airline and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) reached a tentative agreement. The strike, which involved over 10,000 flight attendants, grounded most of Air Canada's 700 daily flights, stranding over 100,000 passengers.
The strike was a result of months of failed negotiations over unpaid work, work rules, and poverty-level wages. The union argued that the government's intervention in the dispute, resulting in a back-to-work order, undermines the foundation of free and fair collective bargaining.
The strike began at 00:58 EDT on August 16, 2025, as the parties failed to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement despite Air Canada offering a 38% compensation increase over four years without concessions from flight attendants. The Canadian government intervened by asking the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to impose binding arbitration to protect the economy.
During the strike, about 3,000 flights were canceled daily, impacting approximately 130,000 passengers each day. Air Canada Express flights continued as usual. The strike severely affected Calgary International Airport during a major event (Country Thunder festival), causing hotel and flight overbooking issues. Passengers faced long wait times on phone lines and many went to airports despite advisories to wait for rebooking information.
Air Canada encouraged affected passengers to postpone travel without fees, started rebooking customers on partner airlines when possible, and urged passengers not to come to airports unless having confirmed alternate travel arrangements.
On August 19, 2025, a tentative agreement was reached through mediation overseen by William Kaplan. The agreement is subject to union membership ratification. The first flights are scheduled for Tuesday evening, but the airline's return to full, regular service may require 7 to 10 days.
Air Canada's CEO, Michael Rousseau, apologized for the impact of the labor disruption on customers and expressed a priority to get them moving as quickly as possible. The union urged its members to defy the order to return to work, stating that the government's intervention undermines the foundation of free and fair collective bargaining.
Entry-level Air Canada flight attendants' wages have increased only 10% - $3 per hour - in the past 25 years, while inflation has increased 169% and the average full-time wages in the country have increased 210% during the same period. The union continues to fight for better pay and working conditions.
Sources: [1] CBC News. (2025, August 19). Air Canada strike over: Union, airline reach tentative deal. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/air-canada-strike-over-tentative-deal-1.6141061
[2] Global News. (2025, August 16). Air Canada strike: Union representing flight attendants votes 99.7 per cent in favour of strike action. Retrieved from https://globalnews.ca/news/8521161/air-canada-strike-union-vote-results/
[3] CTV News. (2025, August 18). Air Canada strike: Federal government orders flight attendants back to work. Retrieved from https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/air-canada-strike-federal-government-orders-flight-attendants-back-to-work-1.6139121
[4] The Globe and Mail. (2025, August 19). Air Canada strike: Union defies back-to-work order, says it will not return to work until demands are met. Retrieved from https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/air-canada-strike-union-defies-back-to-work-order/article39487931/
[5] Fox Business. (2025, August 19). Air Canada strike: Flight attendants reach tentative agreement with airline, ending strike. Retrieved from https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/air-canada-strike-flight-attendants-reach-tentative-agreement-ending-strike
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
