Strikes?: 1) Air Canada to begin cancelling flights ahead of possible work stoppage on Saturday; 2) Planning to fly Air Canada? What you need to know about a potential strike looming; 3) CUPW to hold two days of talks with Canada Post
- Air Canada to begin cancelling flights ahead of possible work stoppage on Saturday
Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press
By Canadian Press Staff, August 13, 2025
Air Canada says it will begin a gradual suspension of flights to allow an orderly shutdown as it faces a potential work stoppage by its flight attendants on Saturday.
The airline says the first flights will be cancelled Thursday, with more on Friday and a complete cessation of flying by Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge by the weekend.
Air Canada Express flights operated by Jazz and PAL Airlines will continue to operate as normal.
Air Canada says customers whose flights are cancelled will be notified and they will be eligible for a full refund.
The company also says it has made arrangements with other Canadian and foreign carriers to provide customers alternative travel options to the extent possible.
The union representing around 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants issued 72-hour strike notice on Wednesday. In response, the airline issued a lockout notice.
On Tuesday, Air Canada said it had reached an impasse with the union as the two sides remained far apart in contract talks. The union has said its main sticking points revolve around what it calls flight attendants’ “poverty wages” and unpaid labour when planes aren’t in the air.
2) Planning to fly Air Canada? What you need to know about a potential strike looming
Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press
By Sammy Hudes, August 12, 2025
A potential strike looms as contract talks carry on between Air Canada and the union representing 10,000 of its flight attendants.
The outcome of negotiations this week could be critical for summer travellers worried about their upcoming flights.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of taking off:
Will there be a strike?
It’s too early to say. The Air Canada component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees received a strong strike mandate from its membership after a vote that closed last week, with 99.7 per cent in favour.
But, that doesn’t mean a strike will happen. The airline downplayed the mandate, calling it a “normal step in the negotiation process” — essentially a tool that gives the union more leverage in contract talks.
The union has also said it’s optimistic it can avoid a disruption. The two sides returned to the bargaining table on Friday in the hopes of solving the impasse.
When would a strike take place?
The earliest that flight attendants could potentially walk off the job is Saturday at 12:01 a.m. ET.
That deadline comes after a mandatory 21-day “cooling off” period officially expires.
The strike mandate is effective for 60 days.
When will we know if there is a strike?
The union must provide 72-hours notice if it intends to strike.
That means it could give notice of a work stoppage by Wednesday at 12:01 a.m. ET if they intend to go on strike on Saturday.
Air Canada says it will keep passengers updated on potential disruptions via email and text message.
Would all flights be cancelled?
Air Canada has said it is “premature to speculate or discuss possible contingencies” in case of a strike.
If a strike does occur, it would affect Air Canada’s main operations and Air Canada Rouge.
Flight attendants working for Jazz and PAL, which operate Air Canada Express flights, are not part of the negotiations.
How will I find out either way?
Air Canada has said to stay tuned for updates this week.
While flights are operating as scheduled so far, it says online that should this change, it will notify customers via email and text message in advance of their travel.
For passengers whose itineraries change mid-journey, Air Canada says it will “actively explore all options to keep you travelling, including rebooking with other airlines on your behalf.”
“If you haven’t received an email or text message notification, it’s because your itinerary is not impacted,” it says.
“If you booked your own travel and you want to make sure you didn’t miss a notification, take the time to check your junk email folder and your mobile provider’s message settings.”
The airline has also been posting statements to its website regarding developments in the negotiation process.
3) CUPW to hold two days of talks with Canada Post
Courtesy Barrie360.com and Canadian Press
By Canadian Press Staff, August 14, 2025
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers says it will hold two days of talks with Canada Post.
The union, which represents about 55,000 postal workers, says both sides met with federal mediators on Tuesday and it has agreed to meet with Canada Post on Friday and Monday.
The talks come after workers rejected Canada Post’s latest proposal, which would have seen wage hikes of about 13 per cent over four years and restructuring to add part-time workers.
The union says its national overtime ban remains in effect.
Negotiations for a new collective agreement have been ongoing for more than a year and a half.
Canada Post says it looks forward to receiving a detailed and comprehensive response from the union that addresses the significant and increasing challenges faced by the postal service when it meets Friday.