Air Canada
BOD vs CUPE

Committee Description

Air Canada BOD vs CUPE:

From August 16th-19th, 2025, 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants led by the Canadian Union of Public Employees went on strike, seeking fair wages for their work. Over 3,200 flights were cancelled leaving 500,000 passengers stranded globally. The series of events that unfolded were questionable, including CUPE’s refusal to abide by the federal government’s demand for arbitration.

A clash between social and economic classes, delegates will be split into the boardroom of Air Canada and CUPE. They must navigate political tensions, pressure from the public, and shareholder interests. The entire fate of union regulations is in their hands, it is up to them to lead the path forward for Canada.

Background Guide

Topics of Debate

Topic A: Balancing Financial Interests With Worker Welfare

Air Canada is a publicly traded company that must serve the financial interests of its shareholders. At the same time, CUPE is a union there to protect workers, ensuring that companies do not exploit employees without fair compensation. Delegates on both sides of the committee must negotiate, navigating how to increase profitability while considering equitable worker welfare and wages. Without a settlement the committee, and Canada, will be stuck at a stalemate, and everyone will suffer the consequences. So what will you choose, compromise or conflict?

Topic B: Consequences of Labour Relations on Society and Government Intervention into Labour Action

Labour strikes within federally regulated industries have immense effects on society as a whole. Every decision made has a chain effect on the economy, legal precedents, and the future of Air Canada and CUPE. Delegates must consider the implications of their actions. Will they call upon the government to intervene? Will they hold out and refuse to cooperate? The power lies in their hands to shape the direction of this nation, how will they use it?