Air Canada flight attendants may go on strike; unpaid work and wages become focus of negotiations
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Civil Aviation Resources Network, January 8, 2025: According to the Financial Post, Air Canada flight attendants may be preparing for the next major strike. It is reported that Air Canada flight attendants have launched a public relations offensive during contract negotiations with the airline, and long-standing issues of pay, working conditions and scheduling have also exacerbated tensions.
Wesley Lesosky, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Air Canada branch, represents more than 10,000 members who have been working under the same collective agreement for a decade. As the current agreement expires on March 31, negotiations with Air Canada are ongoing, and unpaid work and salary issues have become the focus of negotiations.
One of the main concerns raised by CUPE leadership, including Lesosky, is the issue of unpaid work. It is reported that Air Canada's flight attendant pay time only includes the time in the flight points, that is, the time worked in the flight, but the work tasks and time before and after the flight are not included. These tasks include boarding, assisting people with disabilities, conducting security checks and managing luggage. The union estimates that flight attendants work an average of 35 hours a month without being paid.
In addition to the issue of unpaid work, the Canadian Union of Public Employees also highlighted concerns about stagnant wages over the past decade, which has weakened flight attendants' purchasing power.
The starting salary for flight attendants at the airline is about $30 per hour, and wages are paid only based on flight time. Therefore, many flight attendants, especially junior flight attendants, earn less than the minimum wage when unpaid work is taken into account. "It is not uncommon for flight attendants to work 14 hours a day but only get paid for 6 to 8 hours."
The report pointed out that since the start of negotiations with Air Canada on December 11, 2024, CUPE has been committed to reaching a fair agreement without striking.