Air Canada will lock out its flight attendants this weekend. This decision comes after their union issued a strike notice. As a result, flights could stop completely if talks fail.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) represents 9,500 flight attendants. It said 99.7% of members voted to strike. The union is demanding pay for all hours worked, cost-of-living protections, and wage increases in line with industry standards.

Unpaid Hours at the Center

At the heart of the dispute is unpaid work. Currently, flight attendants earn hourly pay only between take-off and landing. However, they spend extra hours during boarding, safety checks, and deplaning without pay.

As CUPE spokesperson Pouliot told The Globe and Mail, “If you factor in the total time worked, you’re essentially earning less than federal minimum wage if you’re a junior flight attendant.”

Union Criticizes Airline’s Approach

For months, CUPE has been pushing for changes. “For the past nine months, we have put forward solid, data-driven proposals on wages and unpaid work,” said Wesley Lesosky, CUPE’s Air Canada Component president, as quoted by CNN. “Air Canada’s response makes one thing clear: they are not interested in resolving these critical issues.”

Air Canada Defends Offer

Meanwhile, Air Canada says it has negotiated for eight months. It also offered binding arbitration. In addition, it proposed a 38% pay rise over four years. The union rejected the deal and served a strike notice. Consequently, the airline responded with a 72-hour lockout notice effective 16 August.

Flights Face Shutdown

Because of this dispute, cancellations could begin on Wednesday. More flights could be affected on Thursday. Finally, a full shutdown may happen by Saturday. Air Canada runs 430 daily flights between Canada and the US, serving over 50 US airports. It flies about 130,000 passengers each day.

Government Pushes for Deal

In response, Labour Minister Patty Hajdu met with both sides. She urged them to remain at the table with federal mediators “until a deal is found.”

A Wider Industry Problem

Ultimately, this conflict highlights a broader issue in the airline industry. Boarding pay and full-hour compensation remain contentious topics in both Canada and the US.