The federal government has unveiled its plan for the upcoming stages of its investigation into allegations of uncompensated work within the aviation sector. This initiative will involve engaging with both employees and employers through two roundtable discussions with key stakeholders.
In August, Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu initiated the investigation following a strike by flight attendants at Air Canada. The union raised concerns about flight attendants not being remunerated for tasks performed when flights are not airborne, a matter described by Hajdu as “deeply troubling.”
Hajdu has indicated that the investigation may lead to the introduction of new legislation. However, she emphasized the government’s cautious approach to ensure the preservation of collective bargaining rights for union members and employers.
The primary focus of the inquiry is to determine if there are any loopholes enabling employers to evade their responsibility to adequately compensate flight attendants for their services. Employment and Social Development Canada will organize roundtable sessions with industry representatives over the next two months, with a feedback deadline set for October 17. Hajdu aims to conclude the investigation by the end of the year.
Recently, a disagreement between the union representing Air Canada’s flight attendants and the airline disrupted numerous flights during the peak summer travel season. The three-day strike, which concluded on August 19 with the assistance of a federal mediator, led to a tentative agreement. This agreement included a 12% pay raise for junior flight attendants and an 8% increase for senior members this year, followed by incremental raises in subsequent years.
Despite the tentative agreement, flight attendants overwhelmingly rejected the deal, prompting a return to mediation to address the wage dispute without affecting flight operations.