No news is bad news.
With a potentially paralyzing Air Canada flight attendants' strike/lockout just hours away, it appears management and the flight attendant's union remain in separate corners.
There are "no updates from the bargaining table," a spokesperson for the Air Canada component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) told Open Jaw this morning. "The company has yet to respond to CUPE's last offer made Tuesday at 9PM. They seem intent on job action."
On the Air Canada side of the table, officials on 14AUG said they're available to talk anytime, but it doesn't appear actual negotiations are taking place.
Most recently, the airline issued a statement that it says ‘clarifies’ its offer to the union. Officials claim Air Canada’s offer would make flight attendants the highest paid in Canada, include an "industry-leading" provision for ground pay (a key issue for the union) and a 38% pay hike over four years.
The airline also said that by 2027, senior flight attendants would earn $87,000 per year, and that 20% of FA's would earn $90,000 or more.
CUPE officials insist they hadn't seen any such offer.
Air Canada will be in a lockout position and the union in a legal strike position at 12:58 am EDT on 16AUG, 2025.
The carrier says it’s cancelling some 500 flights today as it prepares for a total network shutdown after midnight. As of noon EDT today, 15AUG, Flight Aware was showing 174 cancelled Air Canada flights; roughly 28%, and 25 cancelled Air Canada Rouge flights (about 10%).
As anxiety about a potential strike grows, Air Canada has been sending out messages to customers about their cancellation and refund policies.
"We are writing to inform you that your upcoming flight is at risk of cancellation due to a planned labour disruption by Air Canada flight attendants, represented by CUPE," the airline said. "We advise you to consider using the flexible rebooking policy we have in place which allows you to change your flight at no additional cost. The policy is available to customers who purchased an Air Canada ticket or redeemed points for an Aeroplan flight reward no later than August 13, 2025, for travel between August 15 and August 18, 2025.
"The policy also applies even if you purchased a non-refundable fare. You can cancel your itinerary and receive the unused portion of your ticket in your AC Wallet or as a Future Travel Credit to use on your next Air Canada booking. If you opt to keep your current booking and your flight is cancelled due to a labour disruption, Air Canada will attempt to rebook you on another flight, including those operated by other airlines. However, available capacity on our airline and on other carriers is limited due to the summer travel peak, meaning the possibility of rebooking you within an acceptable timeframe is low. Customers booked on flights that are cancelled will also have the option to obtain a full refund."
Air Canada management has asked for Ottawa to intervene and force binding arbitration on both sides; a move that could avoid a strike or lockout. The union has previously rejected the idea of arbitration, but federal Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu has asked CUPE to consider the move. Writing on her X/Twitter account, Hajdu said the union has promised to give her an answer by noon EDT on 15AUG.
