Unionized Air Canada workers are going to be engaging in strike action at Vancouver airport (YVR) and other Canadian airports next week, but will it impact your trip?
The Air Canada Component of CUPE is planning a day of action across Canada on Aug. 11, beginning at 10 a.m.
“With a strong strike mandate behind us, we are calling for a Nationwide Day of Action (DOA) on Monday, Aug. 11 to show unified support for your Bargaining Committee. Please show up on this day in your uniform,” a statement on the group’s Facebook page says.
Workers voted unanimously in favour of strike action on Aug. 5, with 99.7 per cent of workers voting yes. The workers who will be striking are flight attendants represented by CUPE, but Air Canada Pilots have also spoken out in support.
“We stand by our flight attendants and support their efforts towards achieving a fair contract,” an Aug. 5 Facebook post from Air Canada Pilots states.
Should you be worried if you’re flying out of or into Vancouver airport next week? For now, a YVR spokesperson told Daily Hive, no.
“We are closely following negotiations between Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents Air Canada flight attendants across the country,” the YVR spokesperson said.
“We are aware of a planned demonstration by Air Canada flight attendants on Monday at YVR as well as other Canadian airports.”
The spokesperson added that YVR doesn’t anticipate an impact on travellers at YVR related to the demonstration.
“However, we will provide [the] latest information on our channels as the day unfolds.”
The spokesperson reminds travellers to check the YVR website for the latest information relating to flight status.
The chair of the YVR Strike Committee at local 4094 offered a statement to Daily Hive, suggesting that cost-of-living concerns were on the minds of striking workers.
“Affordability, inflation of costs, and corporate greed are the struggles of not just flight attendants, but of all Canadians. Because of unfair labour rules allowing an average of 35 hours a month of unpaid work, and a 10-year contract, we have a strong contingent of our membership that are living in literal poverty. Shouldn’t a full-time job with a highly profitable corporation be enough to meet your basic needs without living with your parents into your mid-30s, or away from home in a Dickensian rooming house?”
They added that the event is planned for maximum exposure but minimal disruption to the public.
Air Canada posted some information on its website about negotiations between the two sides, along with details about the pay structure of current employees, on Aug. 4.
“Half of Air Canada mainline flight attendants earned more than $54,000 in 2024, excluding incentive rewards, and health and pension benefits. The median is influenced by the fact that about one-third of flight attendants have been hired in the past five years. At the top of the scale, which they reach within 10 years, flight attendants can make more than $70,000,” Air Canada states.
We’ve contacted Air Canada for a statement on the looming strike action.