Air Canada Flight Attendants May Strike Over Unpaid Work and Low Wages
More than 10,000 Air Canada and Air Canada flight attendants could go on strike after their contracts expired on March 31, 2025. At the core of the dispute are unpaid work hours, low wages, and unstable schedules.
35 Hours of Unpaid Work Per Month
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents the flight attendants, says its members perform an average of 35 hours of unpaid labor per month. Currently, attendants are paid only when the aircraft is in the air.
This means essential duties like:
- Greeting passengers
- Assisting with boarding
- Securing overhead baggage
- Post-flight disembarkation
- Pre-flight briefings
are all unpaid, despite being required by airline policy and Transport Canada regulations.
Push for Legislative Change: Bill C-415
CUPE is now rallying behind Bill C-415, a proposal that would require airlines to pay flight attendants for all hours worked, including pre- and post-flight duties. If passed, it would mark a significant shift in Canada’s labor laws in the airline sector.
According to CBC News, current pay practices may violate Transport Canada guidelines. The union argues that enforcing compensation for all working hours would set a new precedent in the industry.
Salaries Falling Short
Many flight attendants earn as little as $27,000 per year, which CUPE says is not sustainable given Canada’s cost of living. The union is pushing for:
- A wage increase across the board
- Compensation for all mandatory training hours
- Improved scheduling to reduce unpaid standby periods
CUPE’s Federal Election Campaign
The union is also turning its focus to federal politics. It has called on party leaders to sign a pledge committing to outlawing unpaid work in the airline sector.
CUPE’s “Unpaid Work Won’t Fly” campaign, which began two years ago, is gaining momentum. The group aims to reintroduce Bill C-415 in the next Parliament and make wage reform a key election issue.
In a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, Wesley Lesosky, president of CUPE’s airline division, wrote:
“No one should ever be forced to work for free, but especially not in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.”
What Comes Next
With labor talks ongoing and political pressure increasing, CUPE hopes that the campaign’s momentum will carry into the next federal government. A strike remains on the table if negotiations fail.
More…
- https://www.toronto.com/news/10-000-air-canada-flight-attendants-may-go-on-strike-unpaid-work-wont-fly-campaign/article_9dbbc6c2-e161-513b-95f7-68a6dc7e7143.html
- https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/air-canada-rouge-flight-attendants-bargaining
- https://unpublished.ca/news-feed-item/2025-04-01/could-air-canada-flight-attendants-go-on-strike-as-negotiations-start
