Air Canada flight attendants could strike next week. Here's what you need to know

Air Canada flight attendants could walk off the job as early as next week after voting overwhelmingly to approve a strike mandate. 

Members of the Air Canada component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) voted 99.7 per cent in favour of a strike mandate on Tuesday. But a strike isn't set in stone yet, with both parties back at the bargaining table starting Friday. Here's what you need to know:

When could workers go on strike? 

If an agreement isn't reached, the union told CBC News on Friday the earliest its workers could walk off the job is 12:01 ET on Aug. 16. CUPE must provide 72 hours' notice of strike action and, in an emailed statement, said this means the earliest it could issue that notice is Aug. 13. 

However, three days' notice of a strike or lockout could be issued by either side, with job action possible as of Aug. 16.

According to the union, it will be back at the bargaining table from Friday until Aug. 15. 

The Air Canada component of CUPE represents more than 10,000 flight attendants at the airline and its leisure service, Air Canada Rouge. Air Canada Express flights, which are operated by Jazz and PAL, will not be affected.

What's at stake in the negotiations?

The union and Air Canada are negotiating a new contract after the previous 10-year contract expired in March. CUPE says that wages, work rules and unpaid hours are the big issues in contention. 

According to CUPE, many duties performed by flight attendants prior to boarding and after deplaning, including performing required safety checks and assisting passengers, go unpaid under the current pay structure. 

The union announced that members will be mobilizing at airports in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary on Monday to raise awareness of the essential role of flight attendants, and that representatives will be on hand to answer questions. 

How are negotiations going? 

Bloomberg reported earlier this week that Air Canada had offered an overall wage increase of more than 30 per cent over four years. 

Air Canada told CBC News that it was unable to comment on the specifics during the bargaining process. 

"We can confirm, however, that we have made a proposal to the union that would make our flight attendants the best paid in Canada — including addressing the issue of ground pay — in recognition of their contributions to the success of our airline," the airline said in a statement. 

When asked about a potential offer, CUPE told CBC News on Thursday that "Air Canada has never presented this offer to the union. 

"If this indeed is what the company plans to present when we resume negotiations on Friday, we look forward to discussing it then."

Should you cancel your Air Canada flight?

The airline has previously said that it believes it's too early for travellers to consider disrupting their plans. 

"At this point, our focus is on achieving a new, negotiated agreement with CUPE, so it is premature to speculate or discuss possible contingencies," Air Canada spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick told The Canadian Press. 

CUPE has stated that a strike is an option, but not the goal. 

One expert told CBC News that those whose flights fall on a day that might be affected by a possible strike shouldn't cancel their flights. 

"There's compensation that's going to be due to you if they [Air Canada] cancel the flights rather than if you cancel it," John Gradek, a lecturer in supply networks and aviation management at McGill University, told CBC News. 

He recommended that those who absolutely need to make it to their destination on a specific day consider buying a refundable ticket from another airline so that they can get their money back if there's no strike and proceed with their original ticket.