July 2022

Paid Boarding Secured for Pascan Aviation Crew

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 Launches "Unpaid Work Won't Fly" Campaign

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 Canada.

May 2024

CUPE and NDP Demand Legislative Action on Unpaid Work

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

Bill C-409 Introduced: Fairness for Flight Attendants Act

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.

Update As the 44th Parliament dissolved on January 6, 2025, Bill C-409 did not pass into law and is now considered defunct. For it to become law, it would need to be reintroduced in a new Parliament.

October 2024

Bill C-415 Introduced: Flight Attendants' Remuneration Act

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.

Update As the 44th Parliament dissolved on January 6, 2025, Bill C-415 did not pass into law and is now considered defunct. For it to become law, it would need to be reintroduced in a new Parliament.

December 2024

Porter Airlines Announces Partial Boarding Pay

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 Union Launches "Unfair Canada" Campaign

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.

March 2025

CUPE's Airline Division Pushes Parties for Pledge on Unpaid Work

As the possibility of a federal election loomed (though one has not been called as of today's date), CUPE's Airline Division, representing 18,500 flight attendants across Canada, called on all federal party leaders to pledge to reintroduce legislation banning unpaid work if elected. They specifically asked leaders to commit to reintroducing Bill C-415. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Green Party Co-leader Elizabeth May signed the pledge. Leaders of the Conservative Party and the Bloc Québécois did not respond, and Liberal Leader Mark Carney's office acknowledged receipt but did not sign.

April 2025

NDP and Greens Pledge to End Unpaid Work

Following up on their pledge, the NDP and Green Party reiterated their commitment to introduce legislation to ban unpaid work for flight attendants in the next Parliament. CUPE highlighted the importance of knowing which parties support their fight as advance polls were set to open for a potential election.

May 2025

Air Canada Flight Attendant Union Files for Conciliation (Focus on Unpaid Work)

The Air Canada Component of CUPE, representing 10,000 flight attendants at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge, announced that they have filed for conciliation with the federal Minister of Labour. This action was taken due to an impasse in contract negotiations with the airline. The union's top priority is fair compensation and an end to unpaid work, which they have been addressing through their "Unfair Canada" campaign (launched in December 2024). CUPE states that entry-level Air Canada flight attendants earn as little as $1,951.30 per month for full-time work, making it unsustainable. They are also seeking improvements in scheduling, safety, fatigue provisions, retirement security, and working conditions.