Yesterday, members of CUPE’s Airline Division, along with CUPE National staff, attended a meeting of the federal Labour Standards Advisory Council (LSAC) on unpaid work and wage compliance in Canada’s airline industry.
Your union made it clear that the existence of unpaid work is not up for debate, and demanded urgent action to ensure flight attendants are being paid for every hour worked.
We called for a clear and realistic understanding of what constitutes “work” in the airline industry. Flight attendants routinely perform duties that are not fully recognized under the current pay system, including mandatory training paid at reduced rates, extended standby/reassignment/on-call and misconnection periods away from home, on-call and reserve assignments, and critical safety responsibilities such as passenger deplaning, boarding, and on ground medical or safety emergencies.
We raised serious concerns about how work time is interpreted in practice, noting that flight attendants often remain at their employer’s disposal for extended periods while travelling for work or waiting for assignments. The union stressed that these hours must be counted when assessing compliance with minimum wage protections.
Your union also highlighted the rapid decline in entry-level wages relative to minimum wage across the industry. Today, with starting wages at some airlines barely above minimum wage – and some duties paid at half credit – this is an issue that needs to be addressed and enforced through legislation and an end to unpaid work.
Your union reiterated its support for legislative solutions, including amendments to the Canada Labour Code proposed in Bill C-250, which would clearly define work for flight attendants and require payment at the regular rate for all hours worked.
Your union also emphasized that workers must have a meaningful role in overseeing the upcoming employer wage-compliance self-audits, similar to joint oversight models used in pay equity and workplace health and safety committees.
Your union also pressed the federal Labour Program for firm timelines to complete its review. Your union has been lobbying the federal government for action since April 2023. With multiple airline collective agreements set to be negotiated this year, members need clarity and accountability now.
The status quo – poverty wages masked by a pay system that no longer reflects reality – is not acceptable. This is a systemic problem that requires a systemic solution.
The Airline Division remains committed to working constructively with the federal government and employers to ensure flight attendants are paid fairly for every hour they work.
Govern yourselves accordingly, in solidarity,
Wesley Lesosky
President, Air Canada Component of CUPE