Flight Attendant strike vote opens on July 28th

[Me262]

99% voted no

[TalkingPie]

It's little more than symbolic now that the government carried management's water for them, but the membership is still very clear about their message.

Ratification Vote 2025 - RESULTS
Dear members,

The Air Canada Component Ratification Vote closed at 15:00 (EDT) today, September 6, 2025.

The results of the Ratification Vote are as follows:

Percentage of YES votes: 0.9%
Percentage of NO votes: 99.1%

Percentage of the Membership that voted: 94.6%

<snip>

We thank all of the members who exercised their right to vote.

In Solidarity,

Your Component Tabulating Committee

[cdnavater]

Source?

The deal was struck between Air Canada and the union with a mediator at a Toronto airport hotel, under the threat of criminal charges, Canadian Union of Public Employees President Mark Hancock said.
"My understanding was the next day, if there was no deal, they would have gone to the courts and sought criminal contempt, then charges and fines," Hancock told Reuters. "It would have risen to the next level."

Not surprised the levels the government would go to, it might be time for a general strike!

[digits_]

Source?

The deal was struck between Air Canada and the union with a mediator at a Toronto airport hotel, under the threat of criminal charges, Canadian Union of Public Employees President Mark Hancock said.
"My understanding was the next day, if there was no deal, they would have gone to the courts and sought criminal contempt, then charges and fines," Hancock told Reuters. "It would have risen to the next level."

Not surprised the levels the government would go to, it might be time for a general strike!

I agree with the general strike, but I am a bit surprised that this extra threat had any effect. Wouldn't criminal charges and fines be the logical consequence of defying a back to work order? Wouldn't that be completely expected? Didn't the union mention that in their communication as well?

Seems a bit odd:
"Members, stay on strike, only union management is at risk for criminal charges or prison. Have no fear, we are with you!"

Few days later:
"Members we have an agreement, because union management is at risk for criminal charges"

But perhaps I am missing something. Really nice they ignored a first back to work order, it's definitely a great start. Just a shame they caved 3 days later.

[AV80R]

Locking up the leader of CUPE was never an option. The whole country would have gone on strike. I don't know why you guys believe they were afraid of that. Sounds like disinformation.

[Tolippilot]

Locking up the leader of CUPE was never an option. The whole country would have gone on strike. I don't know why you guys believe they were afraid of that. Sounds like disinformation.

I think you underestimate the power and sway the government and the company have, aswell the extreme pressure of hundreds of thousands of stranded canadians trying to get home. Especially when both the company and government are unified against the employees. People like to talk big, rip up the back to work letter, make a firey speeches. But they just wanted their voices to be herd. Once They were offered a get out of jail free card by accepting this offer, the union took it immediately and put it to vote.. now we have an answer, 99% don't want it. But now its out of their hands, the government will decide things now. What ever it ends up being, it will be very similar to this current offer, maybe worse, maybe alittle better. But risky when the government is calling the shots. No big surprise here, the comany and the government will win again.

[Launchpad1]

I think you underestimate the power and sway the government and the company have, aswell the extreme pressure of hundreds of thousands of stranded canadians trying to get home. Especially when both the company and government are unified against the employees.

Exactly this. I've got a lot of respect for the Union leaders doing what they did. They took a stand against the wrong doings of the government.

Imagine the pressure though of the government threatening to hit your union with huge fines, potential jail time and the media constantly covering the stranded passengers. In my opinion it would have taken huge public support, and promises of financial assistance with the fines, from other unions to give the CUPE leadership the resolve to continue.

[rudder]

I think you underestimate the power and sway the government and the company have, aswell the extreme pressure of hundreds of thousands of stranded canadians trying to get home. Especially when both the company and government are unified against the employees.

Exactly this. I've got a lot of respect for the Union leaders doing what they did. They took a stand against the wrong doings of the government.

Imagine the pressure though of the government threatening to hit your union with huge fines, potential jail time and the media constantly covering the stranded passengers. In my opinion it would have taken huge public support, and promises of financial assistance with the fines, from other unions to give the CUPE leadership the resolve to continue.

They won’t get less than the TA pay from the arbitrator.

There is even an outside chance that advancing the argument of ‘below’ federal minimum wage will get at least some larger increases for the year 1 and 2 FA’s as well as the Rouge FA’s. I would be surprised to see any changes to the TA raises for the more tenured FA’s or to the TA boarding pay rates.

There is no sincere bargaining at AC anymore. Since CCAA the corporation has fallen into a ‘the government or the courts will resolve this’ mentality. Bargaining is not healthy unless failure to bargain sincerely comes with meaningful consequences.

[Tolippilot]

I think its likly they will get a small raise from the feds, but i also think if they go that route its likly they will extend the contract term by a year. Nothing is free. The government will work within the current value of the contract, if they give a raise, they will likly cut something else out of the contract to equalize things.

An interesting idea that I wonder if AC has ever thought of. I've done some research latly and found that there is no legal requirement to give FAs or any airline workers perdiums. Seeing as the FAs dont want to be considered as mimimum wage workers, they should just cancel 80% of the value of their perdiims and move that into their salary. Then they would still have a small amount of cash while they are away 25 bucks a day or so, and the rest would.be moved to their salary. Making their year one salary closer to 45 K. Then they will officially be well above the minimum wage bracket.

[Stu Pidasso]

I will predict the corp gets very vindictive in Arbitration, no point in mediation as they are miles apart. Whatever the FA's get, so will the rampies and agents. The economic climate has drastically changed since CUPE started bargaining, if we're not in a recession we are awfully close. I highly doubt they get anything above the current deal.

Plus, they will not be able to fool an Arbitrator with their "unpaid work" media stunt. I am amazed the corp didn't counter that in the public sphere.

[planenuts]

I will predict the corp gets very verdictive in Arbitration, no point in mediation as they are miles apart. Whatever the FA's get, so will the rampies and agents. The economic climate has drastically changed since CUPE started bargaining, if we're not in a recession we are awfully close. I highly doubt they get anything above the current deal.

Plus, they will not be able to fool an Arbitrator with their "unpaid work" media stunt. I am amazed the corp didn't counter that in the public sphere.

Dont forget the mechanics are up soon as well...and not only are they switching unions - but they have to leapfrog Westjet mechs too, thats going to get expensive.

I agree with you that they played the unpaid work card very well....A stroke of brilliance on the unions part.

[Stu Pidasso]

Now we're talking about a group that I would walk ANY picket line with and deserve a massive pay raise.

[planenuts]

Now we're talking about a group that I would walk ANY picket line with and deserve a massive pay raise.

100%

[Blueontop]

Unpaid work media stunt? The PR move was well played as it got huge public support but seems like everyone has lost the forest for the trees. The real issue is making less than minimum wage. Unpaid work really is just a symptom of making less than minimum wage. Pilots are paid the same system with “unpaid work” but it’s less of an issue because even the year one FOs are being home T4s above minimum wage.

A possible way to rectify being paid at least minimum wage without messing with the pay system would be to top up any FAs at end of year are still less than a minimum wage T4. The top up would keep the pay system in tact and only affect those who are less then minimum wage without affecting senior FAs.

(Disclaimer: juniors at AC still got left in the dust though and are severely underpaid)

[digits_]

Unpaid work media stunt? The PR move was well played as it got huge public support but seems like everyone has lost the forest for the trees. The real issue is making less than minimum wage. Unpaid work really is just a symptom of making less than minimum wage. Pilots are paid the same system with “unpaid work” but it’s less of an issue because even the year one FOs are being home T4s above minimum wage.

Exactly!

In a time of 2 second soundbites and flashy clickbait titles the 'unpaid work' is as accurate as it gets.