CUPE’s Airline Division, representing 18,500 flight attendants across Canada, is making its federal election pitch, calling on parties to pledge now that they will introduce legislation to ban unpaid work in the airline sector if elected.
Party leaders have been invited to sign the union’s pledge to end unpaid work for flight attendants, by reintroducing Bill C-415 - originally introduced by NDP MP Bonita Zarrillo - in the next Parliament. The bill would ensure flight attendants are paid for all hours worked, including pre-flight and post-flight duties, as well as training, at their full rate of pay.
“Flight attendants live and work in cities and towns all across Canada from coast to coast to coast – and our members are keeping a keen eye on this election,” wrote Lesosky in a letter to all party leaders. “No one should ever be forced to work for free, but especially not in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.”
The effort comes as part of CUPE’s Unpaid Work Won’t Fly campaign, which has highlighted abusive and archaic pay practices in the airline industry. The average flight attendant in Canada works 34.86 hours unpaid every month - usually while carrying out vital, safety-related duties mandated by Transport Canada.
In the now dissolved 44th Parliament, both the NDP and the Conservative Party introduced legislation to ban unpaid work in the airline sector. CUPE Airline Division President Wesley Lesosky is hoping the momentum continues into the next Parliament.
