Air Canada flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), initiated a strike at 1 a.m. on August 16, 2025, after contract negotiations failed to yield an agreement. The strike has led to the grounding of all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights, affecting approximately 130,000 passengers daily. Regional flights operated by Air Canada Express remain unaffected.

The labor dispute centers on demands for increased wages and compensation for unpaid work, such as time spent on the ground before and after flights. CUPE rejected Air Canada’s proposal for binding arbitration and a 38% wage increase over four years, arguing that the offer fell below inflation rates and industry standards. The union also criticized the airline’s refusal to fully compensate flight

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