Warning message

Please note that this page is from our archives. There may be more up-to-date content about this topic on our website. Use our search engine to find out.

CUPE has reached an agreement with Air Canada that no further layoff notices will be issued to flight attendants before November 1. This commitment, reached after emergency weekend meetings in Toronto, ended company plans to lay off 1,200 flight attendants October 15.

We are extremely pleased that we’ve been able to stop these layoffs,” said National President Judy Darcy. “We have been working hard to avert layoffs by every means possible. We want to prevent any more flight attendants from being laid off involuntarily. But if we’re going to succeed, Air Canada has to actively participate in this effort. It’s time they honour their commitment and come to the table to work with us in good faith.”

CUPE filed an application with the Canada Industrial Relations Board last Friday, calling on the Board to prevent Air Canada from issuing the layoff notices until it negotiates a plan with CUPE to minimize the risk of layoffs. The Board granted the request for a weekend hearing, but after a series of meetings between the company and the union, it was agreed that no layoffs could be issued before the end of the month.

This gives us more time to find solutions through voluntary measures,” said Darcy. “If we can put together a joint proposal to government we have a good chance of success.”

Meetings between CUPE and Air Canada begin October 15 in Toronto.