So like, picture this: Sunday night in downtown Toronto, all the union bosses are in one fancy hotel ballroom basically saying, “Ottawa, babe, we’re over your nonsense.” Why? Because the federal government keeps pulling out this dusty little cheat code called Section 107—a clause in the Canada Labour Code that’s like, “Surprise! No strike for you!” And this time, they used it to order Air Canada flight attendants back to work.
But the flight attendants? Oh honey, they did not buckle up for that turbulence. Their union literally defied the order and kept striking, which, yeah, was technically “illegal,” but also kind of iconic. Like, imagine being told to smile, pour ginger ale, and not get paid for half the work you do—and then finally saying, “Actually, no. We’re done.”
The unions rallied behind them faster than a pilot announcing “final boarding call.” Within hours, major labour groups were like, “We’ve got your back—and your fines if Ottawa tries to be petty.” It was giving solidarity vibes, honestly reminding everyone of 2022 when Ontario tried to shut down education workers and the backlash was so strong even Doug Ford had to chill.
Now, let’s be real—It’s not been easy for Canada’s labour. Inflation dropped, layoffs are looming, and the bosses are back in the pilot’s seat. Wage gains that used to hit 4% are now dipping into the low 3s. Basically: the post-pandemic strike glow-up has faded, and unions are being told to sit down and stay quiet.
But the Air Canada crew? They pulled off a rare win. Like, a Beyoncé-level comeback tour win. We’re talking 16–20% wage increases over four years AND no more unpaid preflight work. Can we get some champagne and a round of applause in the galley?
Labour experts say flight attendants had some special advantages. For starters, their contract was frozen in time since 2015. That’s like still having an iPhone 6 and pretending it works fine. They were long overdue for upgrades. Plus, Canadians actually like flight attendants—we’ve all seen them juggling screaming babies, turbulence, and passengers who treat “seatbelts on” like a suggestion. When the public found out they weren’t even paid for preflight safety checks? Girl, jaws hit the floor.
Ottawa tried to flex by using Section 107—again (six times in two years, but who’s counting?)—and all it did was unite unions even harder. “If there’s one thing that will unite workers on a Sunday in August, it’s heavy-handed government,” quipped OPSEU president J.P. Hornick. Translation: don’t mess with flight attendants, because suddenly you’ll have Uber drivers, Amazon workers, and postal carriers all ready to clap back too.
And let’s not forget the bigger picture. Wage growth is slowing, inequality is getting worse (shocker, the rich are richer), and unions say workers are still angry. StatsCan even confirmed the income gap hit a record high this year. Hornick put it perfectly: “You cannot have this level of wealth disparity and not have it impact organizing.” In other words, turbulence isn’t just in the skies—it’s in the paycheques.
Still, there’s a silver lining. July brought two huge union wins in B.C.: Uber drivers in Victoria organized, and Amazon warehouse workers in Delta joined Unifor. Against corporate giants like Uber and Amazon? That’s like David bringing a carry-on bag against Goliath’s 50-pound checked luggage—and winning.
So yeah, maybe the labour movement isn’t soaring like it did during the pandemic, but Air Canada’s crew proved something major: if you organize, you can still get real wins. And maybe—just maybe—Ottawa will think twice before playing Section 107 like it’s a Get Out of Strike Free card.
And to that we say: buckle up, Ottawa, because these attendants just proved they’re not just serving coffee at 35,000 feet—they’re serving justice too.
XOXO,
Valley Girl News
Reporting live from 35,000 feet, where the seatbelt sign is always on but my patience is definitely off.
