We, the undersigned, are Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge Flight Attendants, Leads and Service Directors and members of the Air Canada Component of CUPE. As cabin crew, we are first responders to medical emergencies, flight disturbances, births and deaths. We deal with grueling work schedules, abusive passengers, delays, and abrupt changes to schedule, all with a smile on our face.
We spend countless hours every month performing vital safety-related duties for free due to an outdated and unfair industry practice of only paying flight attendants when their aircraft is in motion. We spend countless hours training every year to ensure passenger safety and comfort.
We are highly-skilled, highly-trained professionals, and we deserve pay that reflects our high skill and risk level, and does not force us to find incomes outside of flying. Air Canada tells its flight attendants that Air Canada is the priority, and that other jobs should not interfere with the commitment that’s been made to the airline. We agree. But we need our pay, working conditions, and benefits to improve in order to make it a reality.
One job should be enough, and we’re ready to bargain to ensure that it is. We hope that you agree, and come to the bargaining table with proposals to end unpaid work, improve flight attendants’ working conditions, and ensure we no longer need second and third jobs just to make ends meet.