An arbitrator has finalized the wages for flight attendants at Air Canada, resolving the labor dispute that caused travel disruptions last summer. The rates agreed upon in a tentative deal for Air Canada’s mainline flight attendants were upheld, with an increased first-year raise for Rouge employees.
The bargaining committee for the Air Canada component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) expressed disappointment with the outcome. Over 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants went on strike in August, leading to significant travel disruptions.
After Ottawa intervened in the strike and ordered binding arbitration, the flight attendants returned to work following a one-day strike. Despite union officials defying the order, negotiations resumed, resulting in a tentative agreement. Many terms of the agreement, including rules for pensions, health benefits, and vacation, were already finalized.
However, in September, Air Canada’s flight attendants voted overwhelmingly to reject the wage offer in the agreement. Subsequently, the wage portion was sent to mediation and then arbitration as agreed upon by both the union and the airline.
The new contract includes a 12% salary increase for junior Air Canada flight attendants and an 8% raise for senior members in the first year. Rouge flight attendants will receive a 13% increase in the first year, up from the initial agreement. The contract also includes incremental raises in the following years for both Air Canada and Rouge flight attendants until March 2029.
Additionally, the agreement addressed the issue of unpaid work during ground time, setting specific hourly wage rates for such periods. The federal government’s probe into allegations of unpaid work by flight attendants did not find evidence of violations of the federal minimum wage, but indicated a need for further examination of compensation practices for certain employees.
