Showing posts with label Unions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Unions. Show all posts

14 December, 2023

Canada's flight attendants start "12 Days of Unpaid Work" series



The union representing flight attendants across Canada has launched a "12 Days of Unpaid Work" series in advance of the busy holiday travel season, to highlight the myriad ways flight attendants are forced to work for free for major airlines.


"All we want for Christmas this year is pay for time worked," said Wesley Lesosky, President of the Airline Division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents 18,500 flight attendants at ten airlines in Canada. "Airline executives across Canada need to know that forcing overworked flight attendants to work unpaid for almost a full work-week every month is a one-way ticket to the naughty list."

The series is part of CUPE's Airline Division's Unpaid Work Won't Fly campaign, a joint effort of ten airline groups to combat the abuse of unpaid work in the airline sector which sees the average flight attendant work 35 hours per month unpaid.

As a general rule, flight attendants are only compensated while the aircraft is in motion – which means countless duties ranging from pre-flight safety checks to boarding, to deplaning, to customs and security are not paid. Learn more at unpaidworkwontfly.ca.



27 October, 2023

Pilots from Qantas subsidiary Network Aviation to strike next week.

The Australian Federation of Pilots (AFAP) has advised Qantas subsidiary Network Aviation of a two-day work stoppage on Wednesday and Thursday next week.

AFAP members – who make up over 90 per cent of the pilot group employed by Network Aviation – will stop work from 0001 Wednesday 1 November to 23:59 Thursday 2 November.

“It is disappointing that there has not been any indication in the last four weeks that Qantas management might shift its position to bring its WA-based pilots’ wages and conditions into line with those of other Qantas Group pilots,” according to Senior Industrial Officer Chris Aikens.

“Unfortunately, our members at Network Aviation now have no other option but to give notice for lawful protected industrial action.”

After the first 24-hour work stoppage on 4 October, the company put forward another sub-standard offer – without seeking the endorsement of the AFAP which represents the vast majority of the pilot group in the bargaining negotiations – for the entire pilot group to vote on.

After an emphatic rejection of this offer – with 90% of the entire pilot group employed by Network Aviation voting ‘no’ – the next step appears to be a meeting mediated by the Fair Work Commission.

“Qantas management appears unwilling to take control themselves so have shifted the responsibility to the Fair Work Commission,” said Mr Aikens.  “We look forward to what new and revised offering the company proposes to take to the mediation on Monday,” he said.  “We are hoping for the best but planning for the worst.”

A Qantas spokesperson attacked the pilots and union accusing them of acting in bad-faith bargaining and called the action unreasonable.  "This latest strike action from the pilots' union is an unreasonable escalation of the dispute and comes just days after they increased their demands even further. - After originally asking for 50 per cent pay increases, the union is now demanding even more benefits."

26 August, 2023

Canadian airline Porter's cabin crew get ready to unionize with CUPE

The cabin crew at Porter are said to be excited about the opportunity to have their voices heard and improve the working conditions at the regional Canadian carrier by joining Canada’s flight attendant union, CUPE.

“Porter cabin crew deserve better working conditions, better wages, and better scheduling in a mutually agreed contract – just like flight attendants at unionized airlines in Canada,” said CUPE National President Mark Hancock. “But without an enforceable contract and a strong union voice, the company makes the rules and can change them whenever they feel like it.”

That will change with CUPE, where Porter cabin crew will have the support and the resources of Canada’s largest union at their disposal to help negotiate a strong contract.

15 August, 2023

Air Canada's profits soar - while its flight attendants are forced to work for nothing......



The union representing 9,500 flight attendants at Air Canada says the company’s quarterly profit of $838 million shows it is more than capable of giving its flight attendants a raise to their poverty starting wages. It also shows the company is more than capable of ending its reliance on – and abuse of – unpaid work by flight attendants.

“The great news is our customers are back, and the planes are full. The bad news is the workers who keep this airline flying are getting crushed by inflation, while the airline still depends on hours of our free labour every month to keep the airline operating,” said Wesley Lesosky, President of the Air Canada Component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

“Our members are highly-trained safety professionals, but our starting wages are so low that our members working fulltime still qualify for and depend on federal income supplements like the Canada Workers Benefit,” said Lesosky, noting the starting salary for a flight attendant at Air Canada Rouge is $26,487 in the first year.

Meanwhile, the company is not paying flight attendants for hours of critical work they perform every day, and the hours add up. A survey conducted by CUPE last winter found that the average flight attendant in Canada works unpaid for 35 hours every month because airlines like Air Canada only pay flight attendants while the plane is in motion.

“This means duties critical to safety and passenger well-being like assisting passengers during boarding and deplaning as well as pre-flight safety checks are not paid,” said Lesosky. “These huge profit margins reported are built on the backs of the airline not paying our members a fair wage – simple as that.”

17 July, 2023

Impact of Birmingham airport strikes to be more severe after High Court ban on agency workers

High Court ruling banning agency workers could have a devastating effect on Birmingham Airport's future.  

Unite union members at Birmingham Airport reject pay offer of more than 10%




A strike by 150 security and technicians at Birmingham Airport could have a much greater impact following a decision by the High Court to ban the airport from bringing in agency workers during strike action, in order to keep the airport safe. 

According to Unite general secretary Sharon Graham the high court ruling "Is a total vindication for unions and workers. The government’s decision to allow employers to recruit agency workers to undermine legal strike action was a cynical move to back their friends in business and weaken workers’ legal rights to withdraw their labour.

It was entirely counterproductive as, rather than weaken industrial action, it has hardened attitudes and unnecessarily extended strikes. Birmingham Airport should be aware that this will happen if it decides to use strikebreakers in the short time it has to use them before the strikes begin and the ban comes into place. The only way this dispute will be resolved is with an acceptable offer from the company."

Workers at Birmingham will begin an all-out continuous strike on 18 July following a rejection of the 10.5% pay offer from the airport management.  

Airlines set to have flights cancelled and passengers' travel plans ruined include TUI, easyJet, Wizz, Ryanair, Lufthansa and Emirates.

A spokesperson for the airport said "Union members have rejected a fresh pay offer of 10.5 per cent despite a recommendation to accept it from their union representatives, for whose support we are grateful.

We continue to make preparations to minimise the impacts of strike action on our customers. Our advice to customers remains to arrive at the airport in line with guidance from their airline."

The strike action may have a more far-reaching impact as one of the airport's biggest shareholders is said to be currently reviewing its UK investments due to the impacts of the economy and limited future development. 

07 June, 2023

Heathrow security officers target leisure travellers with strike days designed to ruin summer

The Unite Union representing security officers are the UK's busiest airport London Heathrow, has chosen to attack mostly leisure travellers in a mammoth series of strike days. 

The union says this is a "major escalation" in its pay battle with the airport and will see more than 2000 officers strike for 31 days between 24th June and 27th August. With all days set to target mostly leisure travellers, disrupting weekends at the start of school summer holidays.

The strike action by staff, who have already rejected a 10.1% pay rise also coincides with the Eid festival on 28th, 29th and 30th June as well as the usually busy August bank holiday weekend - 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th August. Rather than affecting business, the union seems to have targeted days that will affect leisure travellers and families going on holiday, many of whom will not have been offered such a high pay rise this year. 

The dates of the strikes are:

24, 25, June
28, 29 and 30 June
14, 15, 16, July
21, 22, 23, 24, July
28, 29, 30, 31 July
4, 5, 6 , 7 August
11, 12, 13, 14, August
18, 19, 20 August
24, 25, 26, 27 August.

These strikes are likely to cause mass disruption and hundreds of cancelled flights affecting many thousands of travellers directly as well as many more indirectly. The walkout will also affect the safe operation of the airport leaving Heathrow open to attack. 

The airport has said it will do all it can to minimise disruption during the strike action, a spokesperson told the media  "Unite has already tried and failed to disrupt the airport with unnecessary strikes on some of our busiest days and we continue to build our plans to protect journeys during any future action.

The simple fact remains that the majority of colleagues do not support Unite's strikes. There is a two-year inflation-beating pay rise ready for colleagues if only Unite would allow them to have a say".

British Airways is understood to be in the planning stages of axing more than 100 flights over the strike days and at this time it is unclear if any other airlines will cancel flights. 

The strikes are coming at a difficult time for the airport, which has already reported losses of nearly £140 million during just the first three months of the year, with expected losses to be more than £500 million by the end of the year. 

Passengers affected by disruption and cancellations because of a strike by security officers will not be entitled to compensation from the airline they were due to travel on because such events are described as extraordinary circumstances. 

"These strikes are dangerous and cause more anger and aggression towards other staff who work at the airport." one Heathrow worker told us in an email. "Unite has specifically targeted weekends so it can cause havoc to ordinary people because it believes it has their support. They've been designed to ruin summer for those with the least in their pockets"

05 May, 2023

Allegiant strikes deal with dispatchers union....

Budget carrier Allegiant has advised that it has reached a preliminary deal with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters IBT (union) that represents dispatchers.

The Las Vegas-based company said it had reached a tentative agreement on a two-year extension to the union's initial collective bargaining agreement. The tentative agreement is subject to ratification by the Allegiant flight dispatchers, which is expected to occur by the end of May. Allegiant currently employs 50 flight dispatchers, coordinators, and instructors.
 
"We are pleased that we reached an agreement in the negotiations with the IBT and our dispatchers. This contract extension comes more than a year before the current one ends, thanks to the hard work and dedication of the negotiating teams for both Allegiant and the union," said Allegiant President Greg Anderson. "Our team of dispatchers plays a critical role in our operations, and we appreciate their commitment to this process."

The current collective bargaining agreement became effective on April 25, 2019, and was scheduled to become amendable on May 31, 2024. The parties opened off-the-record discussions early, resulting in a tentative agreement to replace the original rate increases scheduled for May 31 of this year, and adding two additional years addressing a change in rates only.   



29 April, 2023

WestJet and Unifor reach tentative agreement for Toronto Pearson Airport staff....

WestJet and Unifor, the certified union representing WestJet airport employees at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), reached a tentative agreement on the first collective bargaining agreement between the organizations. Both parties now await the ratification vote to be put forward to membership.

"WestJet is pleased to have reached a tentative agreement that recognizes the important contributions of our valued airport employees at YYZ," said Diederik Pen, WestJet Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer. "Our airport employees play an integral role in supporting our operations and this settlement reflects WestJet's commitment to supporting them as they continue to provide the friendly, reliable service our guests know and expect of the WestJet Group."


24 April, 2023

Day of action ahead in Canada as cabin crew fight to end having to do 35 hours of unpaid work each month.



Flight attendants represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) will be holding a day of action at various Canadian Airports,  including Montreal-Trudeau Airport, Calgary International Airport and Vancouver International Airport tomorrow, Tuesday, 25th April as part of their campaign to end the rampant abuse of unpaid work in the airline industry. 


Flight attendants in Canada are not paid for boarding, delays, deplaning, and many other duties. They are tired of working 35 hours unpaid every month, on average, and they are coming together on Tuesday to tell the airlines and the federal government: Unpaid work won’t fly!

CUPE’s Airline Division represents approximately 18,500 flight attendants at Air Canada (including Air Canada Rouge), WestJet (including WestJet Encore and Swoop), Air Transat, Sunwing, Calm Air, PAL Airlines, Canadian North, Flair Airlines, Pivot, and PasCan.

https://unpaidworkwontfly.ca/


15 April, 2023

In Canada, the average flight attendant works 35 hours every month for free......

Flight attendants represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) have launched the “Unpaid Work Won’t Fly” campaign, a national effort to end the widespread abuse of unpaid work in the airline sector that sees the average flight attendant in Canada work 35 hours every month for free.

“Much of the Canadian public has no idea that when flight attendants are doing their pre-flight safety checks, or assisting passengers with boarding, or helping passengers when their plane is delayed at the gate after a long journey, that the flight attendant isn’t even being paid,” said Wesley Lesosky, a flight attendant with CUPE 4094 and president of CUPE’s Airline Division. “It’s a dirty secret in this industry and one that we’re determined to expose and end for good.”

“If we’re at work, in uniform, doing our jobs and taking responsibility for our passengers, we should be getting paid – simple as that,” Lesosky added.

The campaign will aim to raise awareness about the situation facing flight attendants – who are responsible for keeping the flying public safe and comfortable on the ground and at 30,000 feet – and will culminate in a National Day of Action to End Unpaid Work on April 25, with events in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal.

Visit UnpaidWorkWontFly.ca for more information about the campaign, events, and the work that flight attendants do every day.



Quick facts


In December 2022-January 2023, CUPE surveyed its airline sector membership about the issue of unpaid work, receiving responses from over 9,500 of its members. The survey found that:

Flight attendants work an average of 34.86 hours unpaid per month. That’s almost a full week every month.
Flight attendants are not paid for boarding, which can take up to an hour.
Flight attendants are not paid for their pre-flight prep and safety checks.
99.5% of flight attendants aren’t paid when they’re checking in through security, even though they’re at work in uniform.
98.6% of flight attendants aren’t paid while passengers deplane after a flight, even though they are still assisting passengers disembark.
75% of flight attendants are only paid a partial wage for mandatory regulatory training, even though airlines and the federal government require several training days per year.
98.4% of flight attendants are not paid when the plane is being held at the gate after landing, even though they are still assisting passengers, often in elevated temperatures.
CUPE is Canada’s flight attendant union, representing approximately 18,500 flight attendants at ten airlines nationwide, including Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat, Sunwing, Calm Air, PAL Airlines, Flair Airlines, Canadian North, PasCan, and Pivot Airlines.

14 July, 2022

SAS on the brink of bankruptcy and blames staff.....

SAS, Scandinavia’s leading airline, with main hubs in Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm has said it is on the brink of bankruptcy because of the strike action taken by the carrier's pilots. 

SAS says as of today, the strike has so far caused over 2,550 flight cancellations which have affected over 270,000 passengers and it believes the estimated financial effect of the strike is up to SEK 130 million per day or roughly SEK 1.0-1.3 billion in costs so far.

The strikes threaten the ability of  SAS to successfully raise critically needed near-term and long-term capital to fund the Company’s successful reorganization. Last week, SAS said it had sufficient liquidity for its needs in the short term, however, today it warned that a prolonged strike would quickly erode its limited cash reserves. 

The airline is further blaming the striking staff for potentially putting its debtor-in-possession (“DIP”) financing at risk. In such an event, the SAS will need to consider selling valuable strategic assets under duress while also radically downsizing SAS’s operations and fleet. Once those actions are taken, it will be difficult for SAS to rebuild back the size and breadth of its current network and services.

“We deeply regret that our customers are affected by the strike, leading to delays and cancelled flights. The strike also has a severe impact on our possibilities to succeed with SAS FORWARD.  We must reach an agreement and end the strike as soon as possible. That will require us to find us a solution that is acceptable to all stakeholders that have expressed their intention to support SAS, conditioned on the Company succeeding with SAS FORWARD. The strike is putting the success of the chapter 11 process and, ultimately, the survival of the Company at stake,”  says Anko van der Werff, President & CEO.

Erno Hildén, Executive Vice President and CFO, adds: “Since February 1, 2020 (the quarter when the pandemic started) through April 30, 2022, losses amounted to a total of SEK 19.7 billion (earnings before tax). The current pilot strike, with the consequential liquidity drain, amplifies the already dire situation.  Progressing SAS FORWARD is essential in order for SAS to survive and to make the Company strong and investable again”.

The unions have already made concessions, including approving limited wage cuts and had said the talk are ongoing, but that "Hope of a successful resolution is becoming more distant."







07 July, 2022

BA Heathrow strike suspended - but for how long?


The unions behind the proposed strike action for around 700 British Airways check-in and ground staff at London Heathrow Airport has been suspended following a fresh offer from the company.

The  "vastly improved" pay offer from BA had been reached after what the unions called "extensive" talks and would now be put to the members for their vote. 

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham of Unite said: "We welcome that BA has finally listened to the voice of its check-in staff" 

Unite regional officer Russ Ball said: “I want to salute the solidarity and bravery of our members, who, through acting in unity, have ensured that a vastly improved offer has been made.  I am proud to be associated with our check-in members at British Airways.”

While Nadine Houghton, from the GMB union, said: "All our members were asking for was what they were owed. British Airways finally moving on pay is long overdue. All our members - who are predominantly low-paid women - wanted was to be given back the pay cuts BA imposed on them during the pandemic, threatening them with fire and rehire if they said no."

BA's new offer officially remains under wraps but looks likely to return wages to the level they were prior to the pandemic with a possible 4% bonus.  

The date of the new ballot hasn't been given yet, however union staff are keen to have an answer before the end of July, partly in order to arrange more industrial action during the peak summer travel period, if members reject the offer.  









06 July, 2022

CUPE calls on Transport Canada to ensure ongoing protections for flight attendants

As COVID-19-related safety measures are increasingly being lifted across the country, CUPE – Canada’s flight attendant union – is calling on the federal government to ensure airlines continue providing flight attendants with workplace PPE so that workers remain protected once passenger mask mandates are lifted.

CUPE and other unions representing workers in the airline sector have participated in regular calls with federal regulators to express our views on safety issues related to the pandemic. Nevertheless, as stakeholders, we have been routinely caught off guard by unexpected changes to COVID-19 safety procedures and requirements which has been deeply concerning to our members.

CUPE recently surveyed its 15,000 members in the airline sector on their views respecting ongoing COVID-19 safety measures, and the result was very strong. Many flight attendants believe they are currently well-protected and thousands want to see respiratory protections for flight attendants remain a company-provided option if and when passenger mask mandates are lifted.

“We all look forward to the day that COVID is under control enough to no longer need mask mandates onboard for passengers, but we have to recognize that occupational health and safety hazards for flight attendants still remain,” said Troy Winters, CUPE National health and safety officer for the airline sector. "There are thousands of workers that expect their employers to protect them, and they expect the regulators to ensure companies are complying with the health and safety laws.”

23 June, 2022

British Airways staff at London Heathrow vote overwhelmingly for strikes over pay

British Airways check-in staff have voted in favour of taking strike action in a dispute over pay at the UK's busiest airport.  The Unite union said that over 500 of its members at the airline voted by 94.7% to take strike action while GMB said 95% of its members voted for the action.

The dispute is a result of British Airways restoring the 10 per cent pay cut made during the pandemic to management but are refusing to reinstate wage rates for 'A scales' check-in staff.

Unite is now giving BA a short window of opportunity to remove the 10 per cent pay cut before announcing strikes which will cause severe disruption to flights this summer.

Unite national officer for aviation Oliver Richardson said: “The problems British Airways is facing are entirely of its own making. It brutally cut jobs and pay during the pandemic even though the government was paying them to save jobs.

“In the case of this dispute, they have insulted this workforce, slashing pay by 10 per cent only to restore it to managers but not to our members.

“BA is treating its loyal workforce as second class citizens and they will not put up with it a moment longer. Strike action will inevitably cause severe disruption to BA’s services at Heathrow.

The company has a short window of opportunity to reinstate our members pay before strikes are called. I urge BA not to squander that opportunity.”

Nadine Houghton, for GMB, said BA had "tried to offer our members crumbs from the table in the form of a 10% one-off bonus payment, but this doesn't cut the mustard".

"It's not too late to save the summer holidays - other BA workers have had their pay cuts reversed, do the same for ground and check-in staff and this industrial action can be nipped in the bud," 

British Airways said it hoped it would negotiate with the unions, but advised that any strikes would have little effect as managers and other staff - including cabin crew would be drafted into the airport to take over check-in functions. 




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30 May, 2022

British Airways staff to vote on strike action at Heathrow.......


Unite, one of the UK’s leading unions, is balloting its members employed as check-in staff by British Airways at Heathrow airport for industrial action in a dispute overpay.

The workers who are employed in the company’s ‘A scales division’, are angry that the company has restored management pay to pre-pandemic levels but refused to reverse a 10 per cent pay cut which was imposed on them during the pandemic.

The industrial action ballot, which covers around 500 staff, will open on Tuesday 7 June and close on Monday 27 June. Should workers vote in favour of industrial action, strikes are expected to occur in July when demands for flights are expected to be high.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “British Airways used the cover of Covid to brutally cut members’ pay. BA has now reversed the pay cuts imposed on management but refuses to do this for our members. This is disgraceful. Unite will not allow our members to be treated as a second-class workforce.

“Our members are rightly furious and ready to take action. A strike by our members will make an immediate impact on the service to customers so I urge BA to get a grip and restore these workers’ pay immediately.

“Unite will be giving its members the union’s complete support until this dispute is resolved.” 

Additionally, Unite is undertaking a consultative ballot of a separate group of BA’s check-in staff (described as HS2012) overpay. If the workers back stoppages in the consultative ballot, then Unite will also move to a full industrial action ballot for these workers. 

Unite regional officer Russ Ball said: “British Airways has had every opportunity to resolve this dispute through negotiations but has decided not to do so. Our members are therefore balloting for industrial action as a last resort. 

“Strike action and the accompanying disruption can be avoided by BA returning to negotiations and restoring our members’ pay rates to pre-pandemic levels.”

The GMB union is also in the process of balloting its members employed in A scales for industrial action.

 



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21 February, 2022

BARIG and Schule für Touristik Support Prospective Employees in the Aviation Industry

Vocational training, continuing education, and study programs in the fields of tourism and aviation management.
 
The recovery of international air traffic is progressing slowly but steadily. Due to rising passenger volumes, particularly during holiday seasons, individual airports are searching for professional personnel again. New employees are increasingly needed in the aviation and tourism industry in order to support the resumption of operational activities. In this regard, the Board of Airline Representatives in Germany (BARIG), together with Schule für Touristik (School of Tourism) — new business partner in the section “Academic & Consulting” — supports the vocational training of future international aviation assistants. With over 30 years of experience, the School of Tourism belongs to the important educational institutions in the aviation and travel industry in Germany.

“Working within various fields of the aviation sector is particularly challenging in these difficult times, however, it also holds many opportunities for the next generation with their innovative approaches and creative ideas,” BARIG Secretary General Michael Hoppe states. “We are looking forward to cooperating with the School of Tourism and supporting students and prospective employees in the aviation industry with practical professional experience and networking opportunities within the airline community.”

16 July, 2021

WestJet Encore reaching agreement with union


WestJet Encore announced this week that a tentative agreement had been reached with CUPE Local 4070, representation for the WestJet Encore Inflight (Cabin Crew) group. Both parties now await the ratification vote to be put forward to membership.

Earlier this year in February, WestJet and CUPE reached an agreement on behalf of the WestJet Inflight team that operates the airline's jet fleet.

"For the second time this year, I am pleased to share that we've tentatively come to terms on an agreement with CUPE Local 4070. We have negotiated the first collective agreement, on behalf of our WestJet Encore Inflight group, with CUPE," said Ed Sims, WestJet President and CEO. "Our Inflight team members, who operate on our turboprop fleet, are an important and valued part of our operation. We intend to continue supporting them as they continue the safe, caring service our guests expect of the WestJet Group."





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02 June, 2021

Air Canada facing backlash over $10 million bosses bonuses whilst staff are laid off....

Air Canada is facing a backlash from staff, unions and regular travellers after it was revealed that top executives and managers had received $10 million of COVID-19-specific bonuses and special share purchase options in 2020, while the airline has laid off tens of thousands of workers, denied them access to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), and then lobbied the Canadian federal government successfully for a $5.9 billion aid package.

Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the union representing flight attendants at Air Canada calls the firm's excessive executive bonus payouts, whilst lobbying for a bailout and laying off tens of thousands of workers as 'shameless' and 'morally bankrupt.'
Mark Hancock, National President of CUPE said: "Paying out millions in executive bonuses while they kick their workers to the curb and ask the taxpayer to bail them out isn't just wrong, it's morally bankrupt, 

This company has been taking the federal government for a ride and it's our members and the Canadian public who are paying the price. It's long past time for Justin Trudeau to get a grip on this situation."



Wesley Lesosky, President of the Air Canada Component of CUPE said: "This has been a long and difficult year for our members, but this truly feels like we're being kicked when we're already down.

Our employer turned their back on us, they refused to give us the lifeline the government offered through CEWS, and then they lined their own pockets. It's just shameless. What makes it even worse is the federal government has just sat there and let it all happen."




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31 May, 2021

On International Flight Attendant Day, CUPE Flight Attendants Ask: What Is the Trudeau Government's Plan to Safely Reopen the Aviation Sector?

On International Flight Attendant Day, Canada's flight attendant union is calling on the federal government to come forward with a plan to safely reopen the industry, which has been decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Workers deserve to hear how and when the Trudeau government will help our battered industry rebound," said Wesley Lesosky, President of CUPE's Airline Division, which represents 15,000 flight attendants at nine Canadian airlines. The majority of CUPE’s members in the airline industry have been laid off since the pandemic grounded most flights in March 2020.

14 April, 2021

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) bemoans federal government’s $5.9 billion aid package for Air Canada

The Canadian Union of Public Employees CUPE reacts to the recently announced $5.9 billion aid package for Air Canada, which it says is bad news for the carriers cabin crew and breaks the governments own commitments to staff.

"We had a commitment from the Trudeau government that any relief money for the airline sector would flow directly to support workers, and that commitment is not reflected in this agreement," said CUPE National President Mark Hancock. "This deal is exactly what we feared a deal cooked up behind closed doors would look like: it’s a year late, no transparency, and not nearly enough to support the thousands of flight attendants still reeling from the impacts of the pandemic."

"This announcement is good news for our 2,000 members still working at Air Canada and for the stability of the company going forward, but it’s tough to think this is what we waited 13 months for,” said Wesley Lesosky, President of the Air Canada Component of CUPE. "This announcement leaves over 7,500 of my members with no answers and no income supports."

The $5.9 billion aid package provides long term support for the national carrier which had been hard hit by the pandemic and the resulting downturn in passenger numbers. Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada said:  "The additional liquidity program - achieves several aligned objectives as it provides a significant layer of insurance for Air Canada, it enables us to better resolve customer refunds of non-refundable tickets, maintain our workforce and re-enter regional markets. Most importantly, this program provides additional liquidity, if required, to rebuild our business to the benefit of all stakeholders and to remain a significant contributor to the Canadian economy through its recovery and for the long term."  The airline has already changed direction on its previous refund policy for passengers that had had flights cancelled because of the pandemic, who now will be able to get a refund, thanks to the bailout.





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