Air Canada’s flight attendants, around 10,000, have reached a tentative deal with the airline after going on strike over wages and unpaid ground work. The strike, which started over the weekend, has left half a million travelers around the world affected.
The strike, which began at midnight on Saturday, was the result of the flight attendants’ demand for higher pay and compensation for unpaid ground work, including boarding assistance.
Despite two orders from the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to return to work, the union representing the flight attendants, Cupe, refused to do so. The union declared that the strike would continue until a suitable agreement was reached.
However, after negotiating on Monday evening, the union announced a tentative deal with Air Canada. The details of the agreement have yet to be shared, but the union says it accomplishes “transformational change” and signals the end of unpaid work for flight attendants. Members will vote on whether to accept the proposal.
Air Canada has stated that it will gradually resume operations on Tuesday, although it may take between seven to ten days for full service to return. The airline has advised customers to only come to the airport if their flight is confirmed to operate due to disruptions caused by the strike.
Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed disappointment over the eight months of negotiations that led to the strike, emphasizing that flight attendants should be fairly compensated but also acknowledging the uncertainty faced by hundreds of thousands of travelers.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/19/air-canada-strike-tentative-deal
