Flight attendants working Air Canada Express services for Jazz Aviation are voting on a strike mandate after nine months of negotiations and mediation failed to produce a contract settlement. The dispute covers wages, pay for ground duties and wider quality-of-life issues, while the vote closes at noon on Friday and does not itself trigger a walkout.
Jazz Aviation remains focused on reaching an agreement at the bargaining table and is pursuing a conciliation officer after the talks reached an impasse. A strike mandate would give the union leverage for the next stage of the dispute, but CBC reported that the timing of any actual strike remains unclear.
Air Canada Express is a key regional feeder for Air Canada, carrying passengers onto the mainline network across a broad set of domestic and connecting routes. Any disruption involving Jazz Aviation flight attendants could affect regional schedules and onward travel, although no strike notice has been issued.