The Decibel How the Air Canada strike tested Canada’s labour laws
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Aug 20, 2025 In this discussion, Jason Kirby, a seasoned business reporter for The Globe and Mail, dives into the recent Air Canada flight attendants' strike. He highlights key issues like ground pay and the implications of a new labor agreement. Kirby elaborates on how governmental interventions shaped the outcome and explores the potential ripple effects for future labor disputes. Plus, he examines the strike's impact on travelers and the ongoing challenges in restoring normal operations for the airline, all while navigating heightened economic pressures.
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Ground Pay Was The Core Demand
- Ground pay became the central dispute: flight attendants sought pay for pre- and post-flight work and delays.
- The tentative deal offered 50–70% ground pay plus 16–20% hourly raises over the contract term.
Section 107 Gives Broad Back-To-Work Power
- Section 107 lets the jobs minister direct the CIRB to order workers back to work, granting broad, open-ended powers.
- The minister can trigger fast board action that effectively ends strikes in federally regulated sectors.
Independent Board Became A Rubber Stamp
- The CIRB is an independent tribunal but under Section 107 it largely rubber-stamps the minister's directive.
- That raised conflict-of-interest concerns when the CIRB chair had prior Air Canada ties yet said no recusal was needed.