A Defiant Walkout: The 2025 Air Canada Flight Attendant Strike

In mid‑August 2025, Air Canada’s more than 10,000 flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), launched a strike that temporarily grounded the airline’s main and Rouge operations. Spanning from August 16 to 19, the walkout significantly disrupted summer travel, affecting nearly 130,000 passengers each day and prompting a wave of flight cancellations and emergency interventions.

At the crux of the dispute was compensation practices. Flight attendants argued they were not paid for vital duties performed before takeoff and after landing—particularly boarding, safety procedures, and post-flight preparations. CUPE estimated its members performed about 35 hours of unpaid work each month.

Air Canada’s offer of a 38% total compensation increase over four years, including benefits and ground pay, was viewed by the union as insufficient. CUPE noted that the proposed 8% raise in the first year not only failed to keep pace with inflation but also failed to acknowledge rising living costs.

On August 16, Labour Minister Patty Hajdu invoked Section 107 of the Canadian Labour Code, directing the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to impose binding arbitration and order a return to work. The independent CIRB followed suit, issuing a return-to-work directive—but CUPE defied it, marking a rare and bold challenge to federal labor intervention. CUPE leaders signaled their preparedness to face legal consequences in order to uphold workers' rights.

After a tense standoff, mediated talks yielded a tentative agreement on August 19 that addressed the union’s key demand: ending unpaid ground labor. The deal was hailed by CUPE as "transformational," though it still needed to be ratified by membership.

Air Canada began a phased resumption of flights that day, cautioning that full restoration might take up to 7–10 days amid logistical challenges.

The strike had immediate consequences: over 500,000 passengers were stranded, and the company withdrew its financial forecasts while analysts warned of up to C\$140 million in additional costs for the airline.

Beyond Air Canada, the strike set a potential precedent for North American aviation. The adoption of ground pay challenges an entrenched compensation model in which flight crews are paid only while in motion—a practice many unions across the U.S. are now questioning.

The strike’s defiance against a federal back-to-work order and demand for recognition of ground labor are widely interpreted as a turning point in labor relations. Section 107’s effectiveness was called into question, and unions nationwide took note. CUPE’s stance sparked broader conversations about workers' rights, compensation fairness, and the balance of power in federally regulated sectors.