August 11. On that day, they will unite in favor of their union’s demands and gather at major airports, including Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary. The staff participating in the protest will participate in their Air Canada uniforms, but this will not be a strike but a symbolic step aimed at sending a serious message to management.

The union, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), says staff have long suffered from low pay and unfair working conditions. In particular, unpaid ground time and underpayment are major issues. They argue that the current situation is putting staff in financial hardship, and urgent reforms are needed.

In recent days, 99.7 percent of members have voted in favor of allowing a strike, which is considered an unusually strong mandate. Under this, the union can begin a formal strike from August 16 with 72 hours’ notice if negotiations fail.

Union President Wesley Lisowski says this week is “very important for us because the negotiations have entered a difficult phase, and the solidarity of our members is the greatest strength of our negotiating staff.”

Air Canada management says it is in serious talks and hopes to reach an agreement that benefits both staff and the company and does not negatively impact passenger travel.

The situation is at a critical juncture, with pressure mounting from staff and management attempting to resolve the issue through negotiations. The next few days could determine whether Air Canada flights will operate as normal or whether a nationwide strike will be seen.