As previously communicated, three hearing dates have been scheduled for the interest arbitration regarding wages and meal expenses: January 19, January 28, and February 19, 2026.
The Union has been working closely with its researcher, legal counsel, and other subject-matter experts in preparing its arbitration brief. Next week, both the Union and the Employer will file their initial materials, with a second set of briefs to be filed in the new year. In these materials, each Party will set out the wage increases it believes are appropriate. Ultimately, the Arbitrator will determine the wage increase to be awarded.
We will soon know whether Air Canada will be urging the Arbitrator to award its last wage proposal – a wage proposal which was rejected by 99.1% of the membership, with 94.6% of the membership voting.
Earlier in the process, the Employer proposed that the Parties use a final offer selection model for the interest arbitration. Under a final offer selection procedure, the Arbitrator must choose one Party’s complete wage proposal, without modification. Under the final offer selection model, the Arbitrator does not have the authority to craft an alternative outcome. The Union declined this approach, as it was not aligned with the Union’s objective of achieving appropriate wages and meal expenses.