Air Canada: A Battle for Fair Wages & the Power of a Strong Strike Vote
As some 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants are set to go on strike, UFCW Local 401 is exploring ways to actively support their effort. We are all in this together, and so much of what they are fighting for reminds us of the struggles our members are facing.
The Air Canada section of CUPE has been fighting hard for their members on a number of issues. One of the most important of these is poverty-level wages.
A full-time entry-level Air Canada flight attendant earns less than minimum wage, just $3 more per hour than they did 25 years ago.
“While the airline continues to slap junk fees on flyers and gouge the public,” says their president, Wayne Lesosky, “They’re also exploiting their own employees by severely underpaying flight attendants.”
This is all happening while Air Canada rakes in profits that should make it a simple matter for them to pay their workers a living wage.
It all sounds very familiar, and similar to the situation our members currently face in dealing with the greed of the Sobeys’ empire.
A Strong Strike Vote Sends a Message
A strike vote does not mean a strike will happen, but a strong vote can strongly amplify a union’s voice. We have seen this in Alberta: in May of this year, members of AUPE voted strongly for strike action. In June, 94.5% of Alberta teachers voted to authorize a strike.
We are now also seeing this with federally-regulated workers. The Air Canada section of CUPE voted for an incredibly strong strike mandate with 99.7% of their membership approving job action.
It was in the wake of that strike vote that the Canadian media sat up and took notice of the Air Canada labour dispute. There began to be movement at the bargaining table — even if it is not yet significant enough on key issues — and Air Canada flight attendants have been energized and bold in bringing their cause to the public.
There is a lesson in this for members at our workplaces in Alberta, especially for our Safeway members.
“The power of a strong strike vote is something to think about as you confront your own circumstances,” says President Thomas Hesse of UFCW Local 401. “Much like Air Canada’s flight attendants, you are expected and accustomed to working to a high standard and providing the best possible service for the public.”
“Despite the essential role played by Safeway employees,” adds Secretary-Treasurer Richelle Stewart: “You have faced wage rollbacks, threats and attempts to claw back money that was fairly paid under an arbitration judgement, and an employer who has deliberately dragged their feet in coming to the negotiating table.”
President Hesse continues: “Air Canada’s CUPE members have shown that a strong strike vote is an important tool for putting your fight on the public radar and for showing your employer that you are strong, united, and mean business.”
As we support the Air Canada CUPE members in solidarity with their struggle, we take this lesson forward as we prepare for a fight for fair wages for all of our Safeway members. We may also need the leverage of strong strike votes at workplaces like Superstore, Cargill, JBS, Olymel, and others.
Posted on: August 15,2025