Air Canada flight attendants' union asks to cancel mediation process, sending wage issue to arbitration

The union representing Air Canada's flight attendants requested a cancellation of mediation after members voted against a wage agreement earlier this month, a spokesperson said Tuesday.

A representative for the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) confirmed the request to CBC News, saying that the union "saw no evidence" that mediation would yield an acceptable result on wage increases for its members.

"The union is therefore seeking an expedited process that will put money in our members' pockets and conclude this process as quickly as possible," the spokesperson said.

Air Canada confirmed that it agreed to the union's request and that flights would continue to operate as normal. A spokesperson referred CBC News to a statement posted on the carrier's website.

"On Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, CUPE asked to dispense with the mediation process and have the wage component proceed directly to arbitration," Air Canada said.

Air Canada travellers faced major disruptions last month when the airline began cancelling flights in anticipation of a strike by its 10,000 flight attendants that ended up lasting three days.

The strike concluded when Labour Minister Patty Hajdu invoked Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code and ordered the Canada Industrial Relations Board to intervene.

A tentative agreement was reached on Aug. 19, but flight attendants voted it down earlier this month, sending the wage issue back to mediation.

The union maintains that the cabin crew members it represents are not being paid fairly and are not properly compensated for time they must spend on the job when planes are not in the air.

Meanwhile, CUPE's WestJet component said on Tuesday that it intends to bargain a new collective agreement for its flight attendants, pushing for higher wages and an end to what it refers to as unpaid work.

That collective agreement expires on Dec. 31.