With less than 24 hours before a potential lockout of Air Canada flight attendants, tensions remain high between the airline and the union representing its cabin crew.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents approximately 10,000 flight attendants at Air Canada, says the company has been absent from the bargaining table since Tuesday night.
CUPE says it submitted a counteroffer on August 12 and has been waiting for a response ever since.
“Negotiations require both parties to be present,” the union said in a statement, urging Air Canada to return to the table and take the process seriously.
The airline’s lockout notice is set to take effect at 1:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Air Canada has released new details about its proposal, which it says includes a 38 per cent increase in total compensation over four years.
The offer includes:
- A new ground pay provision described as industry-leading
- Hourly rates reaching up to $94 in the first year
- A combined 12–16 per cent increase in hourly pay in year one
- Average annual earnings of $87,000 for senior flight attendants by 2027, with 20 per cent earning $90,000 or more
- Enhancements to health benefits and pension plans, including access to a defined benefit pension
- Increased paid vacation and measures to improve work-life balance, including reduced in-flight workloads
Air Canada says its flight attendants are already among the highest paid in the country, earning up to $17 more per hour than those at its largest domestic competitor.
A scheduled Air Canada news conference on Wednesday was cut short due to protests.
As the deadline approaches, both sides remain at odds, and passengers are bracing for potential disruptions.
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