Air Canada flight attendants said that if the agreement is not reached then vote for strike, the Sangh says
According to the union representing flight attendants, more than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants are ready for a possible strike later this month after members voted in favor of the strike proceedings.
The CUPE Air Canada component said in a news release on Tuesday that after months of negotiation on a new contract, no compromise has been made on major issues such as wages, work rules and unpaid hours.
According to the union, members voted 99.7 percent in favor of the strike action if necessary, which represents the flight attendants in Air Canada and its holiday service, Air Canada Rouge.
Division President Wesley Lesoski said in a news release, “The company pulls its feet instead of interacting on the things that matter to our members.” “Now, flight attendants have got a chance to wait and tell the company that it is time to be serious about talking.”
A strike vote indicates that the members are ready to go on strike, but not necessarily the strike. The Sangh said that if there is no agreement, it could issue a 72-hour strike notice in early 16 August.
Air Canada in a statement accepted the result of the strike vote, and said that it is “a normal step in the dialogue process”.
The statement said, “Air Canada is committed to the process of bargaining and is eager to resume the discussions, which was suspended by the couple during the vote.” The company said that “it strongly believes that there is enough time to reach such an agreement and avoid disrupting the plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers.”
Following the last 10 years of contract in March, the Union has been interacting with the Union Air Canada on a new contract for the attendants.
Due to a deadlock in the talks, the strike vote comes after the Sangh filed by the Union for condensation with the Federal Labor Minister in May.
Wages, unpaid works are concerns
CUPE did not underline the nuances of what the Sangh is trying to get in the new contract, but said wages are not with inflation.
Lesoski told CBC News that 10 years ago, entry-level flight attendants started $ 25.13 per hour and now they make $ 30.02 per hour to start.
Flight attendants, according to the cup, can do unpaid work for hours, as well, which was said that they often do not get compensation for the work done by them during security checks, boarding, and deeplating, and when they prepare aircraft for passengers and help passengers before or after flights.
Lesoski said, “While the airline continues to slap junk fees on flyers and kills the public, they are refusing to pay their own employees’ flight attendants severely or pay them for security-political aspects of our jobs.”
“Air Canada has raised billions in profits in the last few years. They can pay us appropriately without increasing the cost to the public.”
The airline reported operating revenue of more than $ 22 billion in 2024, which has increased by two percent compared to the previous year and an increase in net income of $ 1.7 billion.
An Air Canadian spokesman refused to comment on the nuances around the compensation talks in May when the Sangh filed for reconciliation. At that time, the airline stated that the model currently near it is in line with most global carriers.
