Air Canada’s Wage Deal Rejected, Mediation Likely Ahead
Air Canada has announced that over 99 percent of its flight attendants rejected the tentative wage agreement proposed by the airline. The voting revealed strong dissatisfaction among employees weeks after a disruptive four-day strike that began on August 16.
The agreement offered
- a 20 percent pay raise for junior flight attendants and a 16 percent increase for senior crew members, with smaller increases planned in the following years;
- newly introduced compensation for the time spent on ground duties; and
- enhancements to pensions and benefits.
Despite these improvements, almost all flight attendants felt the offer failed to meet their expectations, particularly given the rising cost of living.
Union members also expressed frustration over years of wage stagnation and inadequate compensation for ground responsibilities.
Although the proposal was rejected, Air Canada and CUPE agreed that this would not trigger further strike action or labor disruptions. Instead, the dispute will progress into a mediation phase, potentially moving to arbitration if no agreement is reached.
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