TORONTO, ON – Flight attendants at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge have reached a tentative agreement, achieving transformational change for our industry after a historic fight to affirm our Charter rights.
Unpaid work is over.
We have reclaimed our voice and our power.
When our rights were taken away, we stood strong, we fought back — and we secured a tentative agreement that our members can vote on.
For more information, please contact:
Hugh Pouliot
CUPE Communications
hpouliot@cupe.ca
CUPE has reached a tentative agreement with Air Canada. The strike has ended, therefore the rally today is cancelled.
The federal government has invoked Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, stripping Air Canada flight attendants of their right to strike after less than 24 hours. This action exposes this government’s utter contempt for workers’ rights.
This heavy-handed intervention undermines the very foundation of free and fair collective bargaining – a right enshrined in Canadian law and upheld by international labour standards. Shamefully, this move follows a pattern of federal interference in labour disputes; always to the benefit of corporate interests.
In response, CUPE is holding a demonstration at MP Joanne Thompson’s office tomorrow:
DATE: Tuesday, August 19, 2025
TIME: 12:00 NOON
PLACE: MP Joanne Thompson’s Constituency Office
Prince Charles Building
120 Torbay Road Suite E130
It’s time to fight back and send a clear message to this Federal government – hands off collective bargaining!
Halifax, NS – CUPE Nova Scotia strongly condemns the federal government’s decision to interfere in workers’ right to collective bargaining and job action by invoking Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code.
“Clearly, this government is anti-union and anti-worker,” said Alan Linkletter, CUPE Nova Scotia President. “Forcing workers back on the job instead of supporting free and fair collective negotiations directly contradicts workers’ rights that are guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”
Air Canada has asked the government to crush striking workers’ Charter rights, and Federal Labour minister Patty Hajdu is ready to deliver. Hajdu announced that the federal government will be invoking Section 107 at a press conference this afternoon, citing the financial welfare of Canadians and the economy at large as a deciding factor for this decision.
“She says this move is for the financial security of Canadians—are these workers not Canadians? Does their welfare not matter? How can you be financially secure when you don’t even get paid for all of the hours you work?”
Contrary to the Minister’s remarks, this will not ensure labour peace in Canada. This will only push this fight onto the next group of workers in negotiations, while Air Canada’s flight attendants continue to work for a billion-dollar company for free.
Flight attendants are only paid when the plane is moving, and work as many as 35 unpaid hours a month performing vital duties that ensure the safe and smooth operation of each flight. Now, instead of paying flight attendants for all the hours they work, Air Canada has clearly sought help from the federal government to continue exploiting their employees.
“Minister Hajdu’s comments indicate a clear lack of respect for workers’ rights,” said Sherry Hillier, President of CUPE Newfoundland and Labrador and National General Vice President for Atlantic Canada. “By using Section 107 to force workers back on the job yet again, they’re setting a pattern. And that pattern is that Liberals don’t care about Canadians.”
Recent polling data indicates that 9 out of 10 Canadians support Air Canada flight attendants’ fight for fair pay.
88% per cent of Canadians believe flight attendants should be paid for all work-related duties including boarding, delays, and safety checks.
76% support raising their pay to reflect the important safety role they play.
59% believe the federal government should respect flight attendants’ right to take job action–even if it causes travel disruptions.
CUPE represents over 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants across the country, and workers have been demonstrating at Halifax Stanfield International Airport since 6AM.
“Messages of support have been pouring in for these workers from across the country,” continued Linkletter. “Canadians stand with us. Our elected representatives should, too.”
For more information, please contact:
Sherry Hillier
President, CUPE Newfoundland & Labrador
National General Vice President, CUPE Atlantic and Maritimes regions
709-765-2996
Alan Linkletter
President, CUPE Nova Scotia
president@cupens.ca
Taylor Johnston
CUPE Atlantic Communications Representative
tjohnston@cupe.ca
Haseena Manek
CUPE Atlantic Communications Representative
hmanek@cupe.ca
To CUPE members in Newfoundland & Labrador:
Your fellow union members working for Air Canada have been issued lock out notice as of yesterday morning. The employer served lock out notice after receiving workers’ strike notice.
As we all know, job action is one of our greatest tools as trade unionists—this is how we leverage our power as workers. This lock out is a direct attack on our right to collective action.
This is a direct attack on members of your union, and therefore it is a direct attack against you. We strongly encourage CUPE members to send a letter to your elected representative in support of workers’ right to strike.
I encourage every CUPE member in our province to show their support for Air Canada workers. Here are some ways you can take action:
SEND A LETTER OF SUPPORT TO YOUR FELLOW MEMBERS
Send a message of solidarity to your fellow union members facing a possible lockout. Please send to Wesley Lesosky, president of CUPE’s Air Canada Division, at w.lesosky@accomponent.com.
DEMAND AIR CANADA RESPECT WORKERS’ RIGHTS
Visit unfaircanada.com and send a letter to Air Canada demanding they negotiate fairly and end unpaid work!
SEND A LETTER TO YOUR MP
Write your MP and ask government not to intervene, to let the parties negotiate a fair and equitable agreement. Below we have provided a template letter for CUPE members to sign and send to your elected representative.
You can find a list of MPs (and their contact information) here: https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/search.
In Solidarity,
Sherry Hillier
President, CUPE Newfoundland & Labrador
Need help writing your email? Use the sample text below.
Dear [insert name of MP],
I am a resident of [insert name of electoral district or riding]. I am one of your constituents, and I am also a CUPE member.
I am writing to indicate my support of employees of Air Canada and their rights as workers and as union members. Workers must be able maintain their right to exercise their freedom of association, and I support my fellow union members in carrying out their collective bargaining and collective job action rights.
CUPE members should have the right to negotiate without government interference.
As my elected representative, I ask that you stand in solidarity with Air Canada employees and support their rights as workers, to freedom of association, collective negotiations, and strike action.
In Solidarity,
[Firstname Lastname]
[CUPE Local #]
[Postal Code]
St. John’s, NL – CUPE Newfoundland and Labrador stands in solidarity with flight attendants employed by Air Canada and demands the government respect their right to strike.
“It’s absolutely disgraceful that so much necessary and vital work flight attendants do before and after each and every flight is unpaid,” said CUPE Newfoundland and Labrador President Sherry Hillier. “No one should be working for free. Full stop.”
Flight attendants are only paid when the plane is moving, and work as many as 35 unpaid hours a week performing vital duties that ensure the safe and smooth operation of each flight. Now, instead of paying flight attendants for the work they do, Air Canada is threatening to lock out their employees and disrupt the travel plans of thousands of Canadians.
Our elected representatives must support workers’ rights to free and fair negotiations and collective job action. These rights are protected under both federal and provincial legislation and have been affirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada. If our lawmakers at the highest level have determined the right to strike to be “indispensable,” Air Canada must respect that.
“Air Canada is manufacturing a crisis instead of coming to the table and bargaining in good faith,” continued Hillier. “It’s clear they hope the federal government will step in just like they did with Canada Post and force flight attendants back to work. We can’t let that happen. We need to stand with flight attendants, as we do with all workers, and protect our Charter guaranteed right to strike.”
For more information, please contact:
Sherry Hillier President,
CUPE Newfoundland & Labrador
709-765-2996
Taylor Johnston
CUPE Atlantic Communications Representative
tjohnston@cupe.ca
Haseena Manek
CUPE Atlantic Communications Representative
hmanek@cupe.ca
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We are deeply concerned about the ongoing wildfires affecting parts of Newfoundland and the impact this crisis is having on individuals, families, and communities throughout the province.
Our thoughts are with all those who have been displaced or affected by the fires, as well as with the first responders and emergency personnel who are working tirelessly under dangerous conditions to protect lives and property.
We want to reassure our members that we are monitoring the situation closely. For those who have been impacted or are in areas at risk, please prioritize your safety and follow all directives from local authorities.
If you or your family have been directly affected and are in need of support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to CUPE NL, we are here to help connect you with available resources and services.
During this time of uncertainty and hardship, we are reminded of the strength and resilience of Newfoundland communities. We stand in solidarity with all those affected and will continue to support recovery efforts however we can.
Please stay safe and take care of one another.
Sherry Hillier
President, CUPE NL
The CUPE National Union Education Branch is recruiting for our member facilitator program. Member facilitators are a vital part of CUPE’s education program and regularly deliver a variety of workshops to fellow members all over the country.
We need your help to find candidates in Newfoundland & Labrador! We’re looking for member facilitators from every sector and from all over the province.
Interested applicants should:
While this is not a paid position, CUPE covers expenses and lost wages when members are facilitating.
Please share the application form with members who you think would make a good member facilitator. Thanks for your help with this important work!
Training for member facilitators will take place in December 2025 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In order to be considered for this training, members should submit their completed application form via email to: education@cupe.ca by August 14, 2025.
For any questions, please contact Natchaya Peetathawatchai. Find more information about Union Education at: cupe.ca/union-education
CUPE Newfoundland and Labrador would like to take a moment to salute our Licensed Practical Nurses and Personal Care Attendants who work tirelessly to keep our province running.
Say thank you to your Licensed Practical Nurse or Personal Care Attendant this week and know that CUPE Newfoundland and Labrador will continue to fight for you to improve working conditions and a better work-life balance.
Happy Nursing Week to all the LPNs and PCAs.
National Nursing Week is from May 12th to 18th this year. The celebrations take place during the same week as Florence Nightingale’s birthday, on May 12th, each year.
A radio ad will run on stations province-wide all week. Listen to the radio ad below.
The 51st annual convention wrapped with a fun morning of debate, discussion and music trivia! Brother Mark Hancock ran elections and several rounds of trivia as delegates waited for ballots to be counted.
Delegates elected:
The resolutions committee took the floor to present the following resolutions for consideration by delegates:
The CUPE Newfoundland & Labrador executive thanks all delegates for their contribution to this year’s convention. Let us continue building solidarity for the future!