Air Canada flight attendants have decisively rejected the airline’s latest wage proposal, according to their union. The vote, which saw 99.1% of members opposing the offer, is not anticipated to disrupt flight operations. The proposed agreement, which brought an end to a recent strike at the airline, includes a 12% pay raise for junior flight attendants and an 8% increase for senior staff this year, with additional raises planned for the future.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) stated that the rejected offer would still leave flight attendants earning below the federal minimum wage. The wage matter will now undergo mediation and could progress to arbitration if needed, as indicated in the CUPE statement. Air Canada confirmed that the dispute is currently under mediation.
Despite the rejection, both parties have agreed that no labor disruption will occur, ensuring that flights will continue without strikes or lockouts. The recent three-day strike by flight attendants, which concluded on August 19 with the assistance of a federal mediator, caused significant disruptions to travel plans for numerous customers.
CUPE has criticized the federal government for its perceived interference in the negotiations, accusing it of negatively impacting the process. The union claimed that the government’s involvement tilted the balance in favor of Air Canada, limiting the wage increases offered to flight attendants. A spokesperson for Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hadju confirmed that in the event of a failed ratification, final and binding arbitration would be used to settle on a new collective agreement.