Jobs Minister Hajdu calls on union, airline to return to table as deadline looms

By Canadian Press on August 15, 2025.

OTTAWA — Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu is urging Air Canada and the union representing its flight attendants to get back to the negotiating table, a call that comes as the deadline for a strike grows nearer by the hour.

In an interview with The Canadian Press, Hajdu says it’s “critical” that the two parties “return to the table” to forge a deal on their own — suggesting she’s not ready to intervene in a dispute that has upended hundreds of flights.

Hajdu says the union has indicated many of its demands have been met, suggesting there is a path forward to a deal.

She says it’s not up to her to “resolve the issues in the collective agreement,” but the minister also did not rule anything out.

Some 10,000 flight attendants are poised to walk off the job around 1 a.m. on Saturday if the two cannot reach an agreement.

The airline and CUPE have blamed each other for their bargaining impasse, with the union rejecting a request for binding arbitration and the company imposing a lockout.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 15, 2025.

Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press