Air Canada flight attendants have gained overwhelming support from the Canadian public, with eighty-eight percent of Canadians backing their demand for fair pay for all work-related duties, including boarding, safety checks, and delays. Additionally, fifty-nine percent of Canadians believe that flight attendants should have the right to strike, even if it causes disruptions to travel. This strong support stems from widespread concerns over unpaid work in the airline industry, with many Canadians recognizing the importance of fair compensation for the critical roles flight attendants play in ensuring passenger safety and smooth operations, while also respecting their right to take job action when negotiations fail to meet their needs.
Air Canada (AC) has confirmed that it will resume flight operations this afternoon, with flight attendants returning to work by 14:00 EDT on August 17, 2025, following a directive from the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB). Despite this announcement, the airline’s flight attendants have made it clear that they plan to continue their strike in defiance of the return-to-work order.
According to the airline, flights will be fully staffed and operations will continue as normal, as the CIRB’s ruling mandates that Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flight attendants resume their duties. However, the striking employees are challenging the government’s mandated return, arguing that the directive is unfair.
Flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), have vowed to push forward with their strike, challenging the return-to-work order as unlawful. The union argues that this decision undermines their right to engage in job action, which they believe is necessary to address long-standing issues in their contract negotiations.
The dispute began when the airline and its flight attendants failed to reach an agreement on key labor contract issues. In response to the intensifying strike, the Canadian Industrial Relations Board stepped in, referring the matter to final binding arbitration. This move followed a government directive and is seen as a bid to resolve the labor conflict that has severely disrupted Air Canada’s operations and caused inconvenience for travelers.
The union quickly voiced strong opposition to the government’s intervention. CUPE has condemned the decision to invoke Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, which allows the government to intervene in labor disputes and force arbitration. The union sees this action as an attempt to curtail the workers’ ability to engage in meaningful negotiations and protest unfair working conditions.
CUPE issued a statement on August 15, 2025, emphasizing that the forced arbitration was imposed immediately after the strike action began, which CUPE claims sets a dangerous precedent for future labor disputes. According to the union, this move only exacerbates the underlying issues rather than addressing them. This is a troubling step. It does not promote peace or resolve the real issues. The union argued that it merely delays addressing the underlying issues that sparked the strike.
A major point of contention for CUPE has been the issue of unpaid work, which is pervasive throughout the airline industry. The union claims that flight attendants are frequently expected to perform duties outside of their scheduled hours without receiving proper compensation. “This practice of unpaid work has been a long-standing issue, not only at Air Canada but across the airline industry. The union emphasized that resolving this issue is essential for achieving long-term labor harmony.
The public’s stance on the dispute has been a key element in the ongoing tension. According to CUPE, surveys have shown strong public support for the flight attendants’ cause. The union asserts that a significant majority of Canadians—88%—support the idea that flight attendants should be compensated for all work-related tasks, such as boarding, safety checks, and delays. Furthermore, 59% of the Canadian public believes the federal government should uphold the flight attendants’ right to strike, even if it leads to disruptions in travel.
Despite this public backing, the government has pressed forward with its decision, enforcing the return-to-work order. The airline industry has been closely monitoring the situation, as it could have significant implications for future labor relations across the sector.
The strike continues to cause major disruptions across Air Canada’s network. As of Sunday morning, the airline had canceled 494 flights, including 244 domestic and 250 international services. The cancellations have been a part of a wider trend, with a significant number of flights grounded on August 16, when 345 domestic flights and 374 international flights were affected.
Since the strike began on August 11, Air Canada has scheduled 2,824 domestic flights, with 749 cancellations, and 2,916 international flights, with 762 cancellations. The cancellations have created chaos for passengers, many of whom have been forced to find alternative flights or face long delays. Air Canada has attempted to accommodate these travelers by offering hotel accommodations and rebooking flights, but the scale of the disruptions remains a challenge for the airline.
The ongoing dispute between Air Canada and its flight attendants is part of a larger trend in the airline industry, where workers in various sectors have been raising concerns about labor conditions, pay, and working hours. The outcome of this dispute could set an important precedent for future negotiations within the airline industry, not only in Canada but globally.
Air Canada flight attendants have gained overwhelming support, with eighty-eight percent of Canadians backing fair pay for all duties and fifty-nine percent supporting their right to strike. This reflects concerns over unpaid work and the public’s recognition of workers’ rights in the airline industry.
While Air Canada has expressed hope that operations will return to normal soon, the core issues that sparked the strike remain unresolved. CUPE’s commitment to challenging the return-to-work order signals that the situation is far from over, and further disruptions are likely unless a resolution is reached.
The forced arbitration process, while aimed at resolving the dispute, may not provide an immediate solution. Instead, it may lead to a protracted period of negotiations, with the airline and the union continuing to battle over the terms of the flight attendants’ working conditions. As this situation develops, it could reshape the landscape of labor relations in the airline industry for years to come.
