Air Canada CEO amazed by union's defiance of ruling to end strike

19/8/2025 7:13

Air Canada CEO Mike Rousseau said on Monday the airline was "amazed" by the decision of its flight attendants' union to defy an order by the Canada Industrial Relations Board, which has declared the union's strike unlawful.



The Canadian Union of Public Employees has said the strike would continue until the carrier negotiates on wages and unpaid work. The union's move surprised investors and raised the stakes in a battle that has disrupted flights for hundreds of thousands of travelers during tourist season.



In an interview with Reuters, Rousseau blamed the impasse on a gap between the airline's offer and its union's demands, but did not share any plans to break the deadlock.



When asked if he was willing to sweeten the offer, Rousseau said while the company was "open to listen and have a conversation," he backed the company's offer for a 38% total compensation increase over four years.



"That's a good offer from our perspective," Rousseau said. "And it addresses many of the issues that we talk about, if not all the issues."