English
“compiled: Elmili TK”
Air Canada flight attendants have overwhelmingly rejected the airline’s latest pay proposal. According to the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), 99.1 percent of voting members turned down the deal. Participation was extremely high, with 99.4 percent of members casting ballots. The rejected tentative agreement included a 12 percent salary increase this year for junior attendants and an 8 percent bump for senior staff, followed by smaller raises in future years.
Mediation replaces labour disruption
Since both parties had previously agreed to binding mediation, the wage offer will now move to that process. Air Canada confirmed in a written statement that no strike or lockout can take place during mediation. As a result, flights will continue to operate normally.
This assurance comes just weeks after a three-day strike in August by more than 10,000 flight attendants disrupted thousands of summer travel plans before a federal mediator brokered a resolution.
Union criticizes federal government
CUPE strongly criticized the federal government’s role in the negotiations. “It is impossible to ignore the corrosive role the federal government played,” the union said in a Saturday statement. Leaders accused Ottawa of giving Air Canada “the leverage they needed to suppress flight attendants’ wages” rather than remaining neutral. The union maintains that members deserve stronger wage protection given the challenges of their work and the rising cost of living.
What comes next
Mediation will now determine the next steps in this ongoing labour dispute. Both Air Canada and CUPE must present their cases to the mediator, who will attempt to find a resolution acceptable to both sides.
The high rejection rate underscores the determination of flight attendants to secure higher pay and better working conditions. Despite this, travelers can expect normal flight operations while the mediation process unfolds.
