Air Canada flight attendants hold national protest at four major airports

Unionized flight attendants with Air Canada are expected to hold a silent protest at four major airports across the country Monday.

The demonstrations will begin at 1 p.m. EST at Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, Vancouver International Airport and Calgary International Airport.

Approximately 10,000 flight attendants are being represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which has been in talks with Air Canada since the beginning of the year.

CUPE says the goal of the protest is to draw attention to ongoing concerns about working conditions, including unpaid hours and what representatives have called “poverty wages.”

Last week, members voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike mandate.

Right now there is a cooling-off period, meaning no job action can be taken until Aug. 16 at the earliest.

CUPE says its goal is to get a fair contract and avoid a strike. Air Canada believes there’s more than enough time to reach a deal.

READ MORE: Air Canada flight attendants vote near unanimously for strike mandate