Air Canada flight attendants held a day of action at airports across Canada August 13, to highlight the rampant abuse of unpaid work in the airline industry, and the need for a fair contract.
The flight attendants, represented by CUPE, recently provided near-unanimous approval for the union to take strike action in their current round of negotiations with Air Canada if a contract cannot be reached. One of the key issues is addressing unpaid labour and poverty wages for junior flight attendants.
“There is very clear path for Air Canada to avoid job action: pay your workers when they’re on the clock, and pay them a wage that allows them to live and work in dignity. That isn’t an unreasonable ask,” said Wesley Lesosky, president of the Air Canada Component of CUPE which represents over 10,000 flight attendants across the country.
“We’re proud to put on this uniform and help keep the public safe on their journey, but the days of us doing it for free or for poverty wages must end.
“Air Canada flight attendants from coast to coast came together today to stand up for each other, and for the pride and dignity of this profession. We’re standing together for respect and a fair contract that matches to the professionalism and dedication we bring to work every day.”
The latest round of bargaining comes at the end of a 10-year contract which expired on March 31, 2025. Flight attendants have been crushed by inflation and rising costs over the life of the contract. Junior flight attendants who work full-time and earn just $1,952 per month before taxes are bearing the worst. Meanwhile, all flight attendants put in hours and hours of unpaid work every week performing critical safety-related duties, as well as boarding, deplaning and attending to emergencies onboard.
“Air Canada has posted billions in profits in the past few years, they can afford to pay their workers fairly without adding new costs for the public,” added Lesosky.
Meanwhile, the Ontario Federation of Labour pledged its active support to Air Canada flight attendants and to CUPE, in a statement released August 13.
“As a united labour movement, we will make sure flight attendants never give Air Canada another unpaid hour. If this airline refuses to meet their demands, it should be ready to face our 54 unions and one million workers across Ontario watching every move at the bargaining table, ready to take action in our communities and on every picket line until a fair deal is reached.”
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