Air Canada flight attendants have decisively rejected the airline’s recent salary proposal, according to their union. The vote outcome is not anticipated to disrupt flight services. The proposed agreement, which resolved a previous strike, entails a 12% pay raise for junior flight attendants and an 8% increase for senior staff this year, with incremental raises in the following years. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) reported that 99.1% of its members turned down the offer, citing concerns that flight attendants would still earn below the federal minimum wage.
The wage matter is now undergoing mediation and may proceed to arbitration if necessary, as stated by CUPE. Air Canada also confirmed that the issue is now in mediation. The airline expressed gratitude for its customers’ patience and confidence during the negotiation process. Additionally, both parties agreed to prevent any labor disruptions, ensuring that flights will continue without strikes or lockouts. The three-day flight attendants’ strike, which ended on August 19 with the assistance of a federal mediator, caused significant disruptions to travel plans for numerous customers.
CUPE criticized the federal government’s involvement in the negotiations, labeling it as intrusive. The union accused the government of skewing the negotiation balance by empowering Air Canada to limit the wage increases for flight attendants. A spokesperson for Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hadju affirmed in a statement that in the event of a failed ratification, the parties committed to final and binding arbitration to settle the new collective agreement.
