Flight attendants at Air Canada have overwhelmingly rejected the carrier’s latest wage proposal, setting the stage for potential labour disruptions at Canada’s largest airline during the busy summer travel season.
More than 8,000 flight attendants represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) voted against the company’s offer this week, with union officials reporting that 99.2% of members opposed the terms. The staggering rejection rate signals growing frustration among cabin crew who argue their compensation hasn’t kept pace with inflation or industry standards.
“What we’re seeing is years of pent-up dissatisfaction coming to a head,” said Wesley Lesosky, president of CUPE’s Air Canada component, in a statement following the vote. “Our members are sending a clear message that they won’t accept anything less than fair compensation for their critical role in aviation safety and passenger service.”
The dispute centers on wage increases that flight attendants say fail to address the rising cost of living across Canadian cities. According to Statistics Canada, inflation has pushed consumer prices up by nearly 17% since 2019, while flight attendant wages have seen comparatively modest growth.
At a Toronto Pearson Airport rally last week, I spoke with Melissa Kowalchuk, a 14-year Air Canada veteran who described the financial strain facing many colleagues. “Most of us took significant pay cuts during the pandemic to help the airline survive,” she explained while holding a sign reading ‘Respect Our Worth.’ “Now that Air Canada is posting profits again, we’re simply asking for our fair share.”
The airline reported an adjusted net income of $301 million in its most recent quarter, marking its continued recovery from pandemic-era losses. This financial rebound has become a central talking point for union negotiators who argue the company can afford more generous terms.
Industry analysts note that labour tensions aren’t unique to Air Canada. WestJet narrowly avoided a flight attendant strike earlier this year, and American carriers like Delta and United have recently negotiated significant pay increases for their cabin crews.
“The entire North American airline industry is going through a phase of labour reconciliation,” explained Ambarish Chandra, associate professor of economic analysis at the University of Toronto. “Workers who made sacrifices during COVID are now looking to regain ground as the sector rebounds.”
For passengers, the dispute raises questions about potential service disruptions. While no strike date has been set, the union has applied for mediation through the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. This procedural step is required before any legal strike action can occur.
Air Canada spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick expressed disappointment over the rejected offer in an email statement, describing it as “competitive within the Canadian airline industry.” The company maintains that the proposal included “meaningful improvements to wages and working conditions” while balancing the airline’s need to manage costs in a competitive marketplace.
Behind the public statements lies a complex negotiation landscape shaped by the pandemic’s lasting impact on air travel. Flight attendants report increased workloads due to staffing shortages, more challenging passenger interactions, and schedules that disrupt work-life balance.
Emma Chen, a Montreal-based flight attendant with eight years at Air Canada, told me her monthly hours in the air have increased while staffing levels on many flights remain below pre-pandemic norms. “We’re working harder than ever with fewer people,” she said during a brief layover at Ottawa International Airport. “The job has fundamentally changed, but our compensation doesn’t reflect that new reality.”
The labour dispute comes at a sensitive time for Air Canada, which has faced public and regulatory scrutiny over customer service issues in recent years. The Canadian Transportation Agency reported over 42,000 complaints against the airline between April 2022 and March 2023, many related to flight disruptions and passenger treatment.
According to transport policy expert Bruce Campbell, former executive director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the timing gives flight attendants significant leverage. “Summer is peak revenue season, and another round of service disruptions could damage both Air Canada’s finances and its efforts to rebuild customer confidence,” he noted in a telephone interview.
For communities that depend on Air Canada as their primary air link, the prospect of service disruptions raises additional concerns. In Thunder Bay, where the airline provides essential connections to Toronto and other hubs, Chamber of Commerce president Charla Robinson emphasized the broader economic impact. “Reliable air service isn’t just about tourism—it’s about medical travel, business connections, and supply chains,” she explained.
While both sides have expressed willingness to return to the bargaining table, the gap between positions appears substantial. The union is seeking wage increases that account for both inflation and the expanded responsibilities of flight attendants, while Air Canada must balance labour costs against fierce competition from both domestic and international carriers.
At Toronto’s Union Station, where I caught up with several flight attendants commuting to their airport shifts, the mood mixed determination with anxiety. “None of us wants a strike,” said 23-year crew member James Nowak. “We love our jobs. But at some point, you have to stand up for what’s fair.”
As mediators prepare to bring both sides together, the outcome will impact not just Air Canada’s 8,000 flight attendants but potentially set precedents for airline labour relations across the country. For now, passengers are advised to monitor their bookings closely while hoping that cooler heads will prevail at the negotiating table.
