In a massive show of solidarity, 99.1 per cent of Air Canada flight attendants rejected the employer’s wage offer on Saturday.
Voting on the tentative new contract wrapped up today at noon PT, and the answer was a resounding no.
The Air Canada component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees says most terms would still form part of a new collective agreement with the airline, with the exception of the wage issue, which will now be referred to mediation as previously agreed to by both sides.
More than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants were voting on a new contract. They went on strike on Aug. 16 after failing to agree to one with the company, forcing Air Canada to ground hundreds of planes and strand thousands of passengers. Three days after going on strike, the union announced a tentative deal, which was voted on this week.
But several media outlets reported that the wage increases weren’t enough, and that a ‘no’ vote was expected.
The tentative wage increase was 12 per cent for most junior flight attendants, while senior members would see an eight per cent raise, and all getting annually bumps of three per cent raise in April 1, 2026, 2.5 per cent the following year, and 2.75 per cent in 2028.
The biggest issue for the flight attendants heading in was the unpaid time they were asked to work — only getting paid once the plane was airborne, despite having pre- and post-flight duties including helping passengers and safety checks. The company had offered 50 per cent their hourly wage, depending on the size of planes they were working on, with narrow-body aircraft getting 60 minutes and widebody planes, 70. It would jump to to 60 per cent next April 2026, 65 per cent in 2027, and 70 per cent in 2028.
This is a developing story. More as it comes.
— With files from The Canadian Press