Air Canada, flight attendant union head to conciliation amid impasse in negotiations
Posted May 14, 2025 9:41 am.
TORONTO — The union representing Air Canada flight attendants says it has filed for conciliation with the federal labour minister after reaching an impasse in contract negotiations with the airline.
The Air Canada component of CUPE, which represents 10,000 Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flight attendants, says its top priority is boosting compensation, noting an entry-level full-time salary is roughly $1,951 per month.
The union also wants to close “loopholes” in the Canada Labour Code that it says allow airlines to force flight attendants to work an average of 35 hours per month without pay, for tasks such as boarding and deplaning, assisting passengers with mobility issues, and performing pre-flight safety checks.
In a statement, Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick says the airline plans to work with the federal mediation and conciliation service to reach a deal that “recognizes our flight attendants’ valued contributions to Air Canada.”
Once a federal conciliation officer is appointed, there will be a 60-day period for them to work with the airline and union followed by a three-week cooling off period.
The union says if there is no agreement reached by then it may give 72-hours’ notice of job action after a strike vote has been taken.
