Air Canada flight attendants are heading back to the bargaining table on Friday, after overwhelmingly approving a strike mandate this week that could allow them to walk off the job as early as August 16,

The Canadian Union of Public Employees’ (CUPE) Air Canada component said over 99 per cent of Air Canada flight attendants voted to strike, adding that the vote result reflects its members’ “deep frustration” after months of stalled negotiations toward a new contract.

The Air Canada component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees says members voted 99.7 per cent in favour. The mandate does not mean that a strike is guaranteed, only that union members support the measure if the bargaining team decides to call for a work stoppage.