Flight attendants set to go on strike soon have previously urged the government to address a key issue for them – unpaid work. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) issued a 72-hour strike notice to Air Canada early Wednesday, prompting the airline to announce a lockout starting Saturday at 1:30 a.m. ET with flight cancellations beginning Thursday. Representing over 10,000 flight attendants at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge, CUPE has been in negotiations for a new collective agreement since March, with wages and unpaid work being the main sticking points due to wage stagnation and lack of compensation for pre- and post-flight duties.
Flight attendants typically do not receive payment until the aircraft is in motion and stop getting compensated when the plane reaches the gate after landing, excluding payment for essential pre- and post-flight tasks. While Air Canada has suggested paying flight attendants 50% of their hourly wage for ground work, the union is pushing for full compensation. This issue has sparked a broader discussion among flight attendants from various airlines, calling for changes to the Canada Labour Code to address unpaid work.
Hugh Pouliot, a spokesperson for CUPE, emphasized the importance of being fairly compensated for on-the-job time, stating that the situation is a concern not only for Air Canada but for flight attendants industry-wide. Ground delays post-COVID-19 have added to the strain, prompting flight attendants to demand fair treatment. Despite previous attempts by opposition parties to amend the Labour Code in favor of flight attendants, the current Liberal government’s stance remains unresolved.
With ongoing calls for action, flight attendant representatives stress the necessity for government intervention to ensure fair compensation practices and prevent exploiting workers. The NDP has pledged to reintroduce its bill addressing this issue, emphasizing the principle of pay for every hour worked. As discussions continue, the matter of unpaid work remains a critical point for labor negotiations in the airline sector, with implications for various Canadian carriers.