The Current The Air Canada strike is over. Who won, and what comes next?
Aug 20, 2025
After three days of grounded flights, Air Canada flight attendants reached a tentative deal addressing fair ground pay. Expert Alison Braley-Rattai discusses the potential precedent this strike sets for labor rights, especially in the airline industry. The podcast touches on the implications of the government's swift intervention and back-to-work laws, raising questions about worker autonomy. Finally, it delves into how this strike could influence contract negotiations for other airlines like WestJet.
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Ground Pay Changes Industry Norms
- The tentative deal ends unpaid ground work by compensating flight attendants for ground duties, though at a lower rate than in-air pay.
- Alison Braley-Rattai says this could set an industry precedent and reshape norms about unpaid labor in aviation.
Gendered Labor Issues Exposed
- Alison frames the dispute as exposing an industry where exploitation of predominantly female labour was institutionalized.
- She argues the deal pushes Air Canada attendants to lead the pack on ground pay, with ripple effects across airlines.
Union Defied Order, Reached A Quick Deal
- The union defied a federal back-to-work order and returned to bargaining with a mediator, reaching a tentative deal about nine hours later.
- Leaked reports suggest the final agreement was better than Air Canada's previous offer.