Overview

• The Canadian Union of Public Employees said 99.7 per cent of its over 10,000 Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flight attendants backed a strike mandate following a failed conciliation process.
• Under federal labour rules, the mandatory 21-day cooling-off period that began July 25 ends on August 16 before any legal strike action can occur.
• Once the cooling-off period wraps, CUPE could issue a 72-hour strike notice, putting a potential work stoppage in play by mid-August.
• Flight attendants are seeking substantial wage increases and compensation for unpaid mandatory work performed before and after flights.
• Air Canada has pledged to resume bargaining on August 15 and expressed confidence that a deal can be struck in time to avoid mass cancellations.