Thousands of Air Canada flight attendants to protest at major Canadian airports
More than 10,000 flight attendants at Air Canada will hold a coordinated picket at major airports in Canada to “raise awareness” about ongoing issues related to the working conditions at the country’s largest carrier.
In a statement, Air Canada flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) union, said that the protests at Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL), Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), Vancouver International Airport (YVR), and Calgary International Airport (YYC) will begin on August 11, 2025.
CUPE said the mobilization “aims to remind the public that flight attendants play a crucial role in aircraft safety, in addition to providing quality service and ensuring the smooth operation of flights across the country”.
“We’re heading into an intense weekend of bargaining, with strong support from our members. The standard simply can’t be maintained, because it’s no longer acceptable,” said Wesley Lesosky, President of the Air Canada Component of CUPE.
Flight attendants are asking Air Canada to acknowledge “non-working hours and poverty wages that are no longer consistent with the economic reality of 2025”.
In a previous statement, CUPE noted that over the past 25 years, inflation in Canada has risen by 169% and average full-time wages by 210%, while starting pay for Air Canada flight attendants has increased by just 10%.
Union members emphasized that, under these circumstances, a full-time entry-level flight attendant at Air Canada currently earns less than the minimum wage.
RELATED
Over 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants threaten strike over ‘poverty wages’
On August 6, 2025, CUPE members voted overwhelmingly – with 99.7% in favor – to take strike action if an agreement with the airline cannot be reached. This vote paves the way for a possible strike beginning on August 16, 2025.
The two parties have been locked in unsuccessful negotiations since the beginning of 2025.
The vote in favor of strike action came after the airline and the union finished a conciliation process without coming to an agreement. The post Thousands of Air Canada flight attendants to protest at major Canadian airports appeared first on AeroTime.
More than 10,000 flight attendants at Air Canada will hold a coordinated picket at major airports in Canada…
The post Thousands of Air Canada flight attendants to protest at major Canadian airports appeared first on AeroTime.
