August 14, 2025
The Right Honourable Mark Carney, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A2
By email: pm@pm.gc.ca; mark.carney@parl.gc.ca
Re: No Government Interference in Air Canada Negotiations
Dear Prime Minister:
I am writing to you today to demand that the government of Canada take no action to interfere in the collective bargaining currently underway between the flight attendants represented by the Air Canada Component of CUPE and Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge.
As you know, the right to collectively bargain and to take strike action if necessary is a fundamental, Charter protected right that is key to allowing a balance of power when workers’ unions negotiate with employers.
Along with other representatives from the labour movement, we have previously expressed deep concern with the pattern of inappropriate interventions in collective bargaining, including with the Teamsters Canada negotiations with CN Rail and CPKC, in the WestJet mechanic bargaining and, most recently and egregiously with the bargaining between CUPW and Canada Post.
Prime Minister, these interventions have only delayed or confused the bargaining process and have led to worse outcomes for all parties involved. As has been frequently noted, the best deals are achieved at the bargaining table.
The only way to ensure that Air Canada comes to the table to achieve a fair deal is for you to confirm that the government will not intervene and to encourage the parties to continue the bargaining process.
Yours sincerely,
Marty Warren
National Director for Canada United Steelworkers (USW)
CC:
The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and
Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency
for Northern Ontario;
The Honourable John Zerucelli, Secretary of State (Labour)
W. Lesosky, President, CUPE Air Canada Component;
Captain T. Perry, President, Air Line Pilots Association Canada
Click here for a PDF LINK TO THE LETTER
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