Unpaid Work Won’t Fly
Learn More About the Movement
The Problem:
WestJet Component members, along with other Canadian Cabin Crew, are facing a critical issue: the demand for unpaid work. This includes tasks like:
Pre-flight safety checks: Ensuring the aircraft is safe for passengers before takeoff – a crucial safety responsibility.
Passenger boarding and deplaning assistance: Assisting passengers with luggage, wheelchairs, and other needs.
Dealing with passenger issues: Addressing passenger concerns, resolving disputes, and maintaining a safe and comfortable environment on the ground.
Extensive training: Ongoing training and re-certification to maintain safety standards and passenger service excellence.
Why This Matters:
Safety: Unpaid work can lead to fatigue and stress, potentially impacting safety standards.
Fairness: Flight attendants are professionals who deserve to be compensated fairly for all their work.
Respect: Demanding unpaid work shows a lack of respect for the valuable contributions of these essential workers.
What We're Doing:
Preparing to Negotiate: CUPE 8125 is gearing up to negotiate with WestJet management as our current contract expires on December 31, 2025. We are committed to fighting for fair compensation for all work-related activities in our next contract.
Public Awareness Campaign: We are raising public awareness about the issue of unpaid work in the airline industry together with the ACDP through media campaigns, social media outreach, and more.
Political Advocacy: We are advocating for legislative changes at the federal level to prohibit unpaid work in the airline sector.
What You Can Do:
Support Our Campaign: Share this page and information about the issue with your colleagues, friends, and family.
Contact Your MP: Urge your elected officials to support legislation that protects workers' rights and prohibits unpaid work. Complete the form on the Unpaid Work Won’t Fly website.
Stay Informed:
Visit the Unpaid Work Won’t Fly website
Visit the Unfair Canada website (FR)
Together, we can ensure that unpaid work won't fly.
Important Highlights
July 2022: Pascan Aviation cabin crew, represented by CUPE Local 5490, secured a contract that includes full pay for boarding, ground duties, and training. This agreement ensures that flight attendants are compensated at their full hourly rate for all work-related activities, marking a significant victory for the union in the fight against unpaid labor in the aviation industry.
April 2023: CUPE launched the “Unpaid Work Won’t Fly” campaign, a national effort to end the widespread abuse of unpaid work in the airline sector. The campaign aims to raise awareness about the issue and culminated in a National Day of Action on April 25, with events held in major cities across Canada2.
May 2024: CUPE, representing 18,000 flight attendants, held a press conference alongside NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh to demand legislative changes to end unpaid work in the airline industry. They highlighted that flight attendants perform an average of 35 hours of unpaid work per month, including overseeing boarding and deplaning processes.
June 2024: Conservative MP Lianne Rood introduced Bill C-409, the “Fairness for Flight Attendants Act,” to the House of Commons. This bill aims to ensure that cabin crew receive fair compensation for all work-related activities, including pre- and post-flight duties, mandatory training, and delays. While this initiative marks a significant step forward, it is important to note that CUPE was not consulted during its development.
October 2024: NDP MP Bonita Zarrillo introduced Bill C-415, the “Flight Attendants’ Remuneration Act,” to the House of Commons. This bill seeks to amend the Canada Labour Code to ensure that flight attendants are paid for all work-related activities, including pre- and post-flight duties, mandatory training, and delays. This initiative aims to end the exploitation of flight attendants, who can currently work up to 35 hours per month without pay. Notably, this bill has received strong support from CUPE and their “Unpaid Work Won’t Fly” campaign.
December 2024: Porter Airlines announced that, starting January 1, 2025, they will begin offering boarding pay to their cabin crew. While this is a notable development in the industry, it is important to highlight that Porter will only compensate their crew at 50% of their regular wage for boarding duties, excluding other ground tasks and delays. Additionally, since Porter’s cabin crew are not unionized, this move could be seen as an attempt by the airline to dissuade unionization efforts.
December 2024: Air Canada flight attendants, represented by CUPE, launched the “Unfair Canada” campaign to combat unpaid work. This national campaign includes interactive pop-up experiences in major cities like Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto, where visitors can learn about the challenges flight attendants face, such as working unpaid hours during boarding, deplaning, and safety checks. The campaign aims to raise public awareness and pressure Air Canada to provide fair compensation for all work-related activities. Visitors to the pop-ups can also send emails to Air Canada executives, demanding proper pay for flight attendants.
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