Over 130,000 Passengers Affected Daily as Thousands of Flights Cancelled as Strike Reaches Fourth Day

Air Canada’s cabin crew, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, have continued their strike into a fourth day, despite the Canada Industrial Relations Board ruling it unlawful. The walkout, which started on Saturday, August 16, 2025, has caused widespread travel disruptions across Canada, with Toronto serving as the main center for negotiations and mediation. Flight attendants argue that they perform nearly 35 hours of unpaid ground duties each month, such as assisting passengers during boarding, and are demanding fair compensation and improved wages. Air Canada has offered a package that it claims would raise total compensation by 38% over four years, but the union says this equates to only a 17.2% increase in wages, which they believe is inadequate when measured against inflation and industry standards. Government officials have intervened, with Minister Patty Hajdu calling for mediation and opening an inquiry into unpaid labor practices, while Prime Minister Mark Carney has urged both sides to find a rapid solution. Talks between the airline and the union resumed on August 18 under mediator William Kaplan, yet union leaders remain firm, even stating their willingness to face jail rather than abandon the strike. The stoppage has severely impacted travelers, stranding around 130,000 passengers daily and grounding over 2,500 flights, forcing some people to sleep in airports or stay in hotels with only partial cost coverage. Meanwhile, the Canadian Labour Congress and the Air Canada pilots’ union have expressed solidarity with the flight attendants, with pilots occasionally joining picket lines. Union representatives insist that their defiance is essential to secure fair treatment, proper pay, and better working conditions for the airline’s cabin crew.

 

Air Canada’s cabin crew, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, are now in the fourth consecutive day of strike action, even though the Canada Industrial Relations Board has labeled the walkout unlawful.

The work stoppage started on Saturday, August 16, 2025, and by Tuesday, August 19, it had stretched into a fourth day, causing major disturbances in air travel.

This industrial dispute is spread across the country, with the most important negotiations and mediation sessions taking place in Toronto.

At the core of the conflict are demands for better wages and payment for duties performed on the ground, such as boarding procedures, which workers claim add up to nearly 35 hours of unpaid labor every month.

Air Canada has presented a package that it says boosts overall compensation by 38% over four years, but the union maintains that the real increase in wages is only 17.2%, which they argue falls short in the face of inflation and current market conditions.

The strike has been ruled illegal, and authorities issued a back-to-work directive, yet the union has chosen to resist this order.

Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu has called on both sides to mediate and has also initiated a probe into the issue of unpaid labor in the aviation sector.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has urged Air Canada management and the union to find a swift compromise to minimize the growing chaos.

Formal discussions between the airline and the union restarted on Monday, August 18, in Toronto under mediator William Kaplan, marking their first engagement since the walkout began.

Even after talks resumed, union leaders said they were prepared to risk imprisonment rather than abandon the strike under government pressure.

Travel disruption has been severe, with about 130,000 passengers affected each day and more than 2,500 flights grounded since the strike escalated.

Large numbers of travelers have been left stranded, some spending nights inside airports while others stayed in hotels where only part of the costs were covered by the airline.

The Canadian Labour Congress and Air Canada’s pilot association have shown solidarity with the cabin crew, and pilots have joined picket lines during their off-duty hours.

Union officials continue to stress that this defiance is essential to winning fair pay and improved conditions for flight attendants in the long run.

STANCE:

As of today, August 19, 2025, several authoritative global responses have emerged regarding the Air Canada cabin crew strike.

Canada’s Minister of Jobs and Families, Patty Hajdu, declared the strike unlawful and ordered the crew to return to work. She also launched an investigation into airline labor practices, particularly addressing claims that cabin crew sometimes perform unpaid duties.

Air Canada CEO Mike Russo stated that the company remains open to negotiations with the union despite the strike being declared illegal. He added that the union’s demands exceed the company’s current offer, and further discussions are needed to bridge the gap.

Mark Hancock, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), said the union will not comply with the government order and will continue the strike. He emphasized that union members are even willing to face jail rather than return to work under pressure.

Internationally, particularly in the United States, there is growing attention to fair wages and compensation for non-flight duties for airline staff. Airlines like American Airlines and Alaska Airlines have recently started paying their staff for tasks such as boarding assistance.

This situation is raising questions not only in Canada but globally about airline labor rights and working conditions.

BACKGROUND:

The ongoing Air Canada cabin crew strike stems from a combination of longstanding grievances and immediate labor disputes. Flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), have highlighted that they perform extensive unpaid duties on the ground, including passenger boarding and pre-flight preparations, which can total nearly 35 hours per month. While Air Canada has offered a compensation package promising a 38% increase over four years, the union argues that the real wage growth amounts to only 17.2%, insufficient in light of rising inflation and the cost of living. The disagreement has been exacerbated by the federal government declaring the strike illegal and issuing back-to-work orders, which the union has refused to follow. Additionally, broader concerns about fair treatment, recognition of unpaid labor, and competitive wages in the aviation sector have fueled the strike, reflecting not only immediate financial demands but also long-term issues of labor rights, equitable compensation, and the balance of power between airline management and employees.

QUESTIONS:

We do appreciate if you would answer the following question/s with reference of question number/s in the comments section:

Q. No. 1 How long can the union realistically sustain the strike if it continues to be declared illegal?

Q. No. 2 What penalties could union leaders or members face for openly defying the return-to-work order?

Q. No. 3 Will Air Canada’s management consider revising its offer beyond the current 38% compensation package?

Q. No. 4 How might international travelers be affected if the strike extends into the fall travel season?

Q. No. 5 Could this dispute set a precedent for labor negotiations in other Canadian industries?

Q. No. 6 What contingency plans does Air Canada have if talks break down completely?

Q. No. 7 How will passenger trust in Air Canada be affected in the long term after this crisis?

Q. No. 8 Is there a possibility that the Canadian government could impose binding arbitration to end the strike?

Q. No. 9 What financial impact is the airline facing from thousands of cancelled flights within just a few days?

Q. No. 10 How are other airlines operating in Canada responding to the surge in stranded passengers?

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