Air Canada and CUPE-unionized flight attendants have reached a tentative agreement, thus ending the unprecedented strike action.

The union ignored a return-to-work order issued by the Canadian Industrial Relations Board on Saturday, and on Monday defied a second ruling that declared the strike unlawful. This decision could have resulted in fines for CUPE and jail time for its leaders and members.

Flight attendants went on strike after Air Canada gave wage increases to certain employees, including pilots with a 26% rise in 2024, a mostly male-filed role according to CUPE. In contrast, the union said that flight attendants, who are mainly women, received a lower 8% increase in 2025.