Montreal, Quebec – The CUPE local representing CanJet flight attendants condemns the permanent closure of the airline’s Vancouver base, a decision that will cause 32 flight attendants to lose their jobs. CUPE 4044 will meet with the employer in the coming days to represent the interests of the employees who have lost their jobs.
“The CanJet Vancouver base closure was supposed to be temporary and the employer promised that the flight attendants will go back to work in October 2013. We have now learned that they will not be recalled at all. Clearly, CanJet has some explaining to do to the flight attendants that took them at their word,” said CUPE 4044 President Johane Spada.
“Under our collective agreement, CanJet has the obligation to meet with the union to try to limit the consequences of the lay-offs on Vancouver base flight attendants and a meeting will be held shortly,” added Spada.
With this sudden reversal of position by CanJet, CUPE 4044 is concerned about what will happen to the airline’s other flight attendants when the CanJet contract to provide Air Transat with outsourced connections requiring smaller aircraft expires in May 2014. That contract represents CanJet’s main activity.
“When we met with CanJet president Stephen Rowe last February, he said that he had a plan B that would guarantee the jobs of all 450 flight attendants in case the negotiations with CanJet fell through. CanJet must now deliver on that plan to reassure the flight attendants that respect their end of the bargain by working hard for the benefit of CanJet passengers,” concluded Spada.
CUPE is Canada’s largest airline union. In addition to its CanJet members, CUPE represents more than 10,000 flight attendants employed by Air Canada, Air Transat, Sunwing, Calm Air, Canadian North, First Air and Cathay Pacific.
Additional information:
Philippe Gagnon
Communications Officer, CUPE
613-894-0146, pgagnon@scfp.ca