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an hour ago
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CUPE: Liberals reward Air Canada's refusal to bargain fairly by crushing flight attendants' Charter rights
TORONTO, August 16, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Air Canada asked the government to crush underpaid flight attendants' Charter rights, and Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu only waited a few hours to deliver. The Liberal government has invoked Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to end a strike by Air Canada flight attendants fighting to end unpaid work and poverty wages. "The Liberals have talked out of both sides of their mouths. They said the best place for this is at the bargaining table. They refused to correct this historic injustice through legislation," said Wesley Lesosky, President of the Air Canada Component of CUPE. "Now, when we're at the bargaining table with an obstinate employer, the Liberals are violating our Charter rights to take job action and give Air Canada exactly what they want — hours and hours of unpaid labour from underpaid flight attendants, while the company pulls in sky-high profits and extraordinary executive compensation." CUPE came to the table with data-driven and reasonable proposals for a fair cost-of-living wage increase and an end to forced unpaid labour. Air Canada responded by sandbagging the negotiations. The Liberal government is rewarding Air Canada's refusal to negotiate fairly by giving them exactly what they wanted. This sets a terrible precedent. Contrary to the Minister's remarks, this will not ensure labour peace at Air Canada. This will only ensure that the unresolved issues will continue to worsen by kicking them down the road. Nor will it ensure labour peace in this industry — because unpaid work is an unfair practice that pervades nearly the entire airline sector, and will continue to arise in negotiations between flight attendants and other carriers. View source version on Contacts Hugh PouliotCUPE Communications613-818-0067hpouliot@ Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Canadian jobs minister intervenes in Air Canada strike, orders flight attendants back to work
More than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants who went on strike early Saturday will be ordered to return to work by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), according to an announcement Saturday by Canadian Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu. The announcement comes after Air Canada, the country's largest airline, suspended all operations following the strike. At a news conference in Ottawa, Hajdu said she directed the CIRB to order Air Canada and its employees to 'resume and continue their operations and duties in order to secure industrial peace and protect the interests of Canada, Canadians and the economy.' The government intervened through Section 107 of the Canada Labor Code, which allows the minister to direct an arbitrator to intervene in the dispute. Air Canada had requested on Tuesday that the government intervene using Section 107, the Canadian Union of Public Employees said Friday in a statement. Air Canada said in an email to CNN that it is 'premature to comment as the CIRB process is underway' and it is too early to comment on restarting the airline. 'We still ask customers not to go to the airport unless they have a confirmed booking and their flight is shown as operating,' the company said, adding that all information can be found on the company website or mobile app and local airport websites. The CIRB will also be involved in reaching a settlement and will extend the terms of the existing collective agreement, according to Hajdu. The airline's flight attendants overwhelmingly agreed to the system-wide work stoppage, with 99.7% in favor of the strike, and walked out around 1 a.m. ET on Saturday. The Air Canada component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) is seeking wage increases and paid compensation for work when planes are on the ground. 'Now, when we're at the bargaining table with an obstinate employer, the Liberals are violating our Charter rights to take job action and give Air Canada exactly what they want - hours and hours of unpaid labour from underpaid flight attendants, while the company pulls in sky-high profits and extraordinary executive compensation,' Wesley Lesosky, president of the Air Canada component of CUPE, said in a statement shared with CNN. Hajdu denied that the Canadian government is anti-union, adding that it was clear Air Canada and union workers were 'at an impasse' and 'they need some help in arbitrating the final items.' Air Canada has said it offered a 38% increase in total compensation over four years and an hourly raise of 12% to 16% in the first year. The company said its offer would make its flight attendants 'the best compensated in Canada.' As of 11:00 a.m. ET, a total of 662 Air Canada flights were canceled, including 342 domestic and 320 international flights, according to a report from aviation analytics firm Cirium. According to FlightAware, 86% of Air Canada flights and 96% of Air Canada Rogue flights have been canceled. 'The impact of the work stoppage at Air Canada that began early this morning is already being felt by travelers. This is causing significant harm and has negative impacts on Canadians and the Canadian economy,' Hajdu said, adding that the flight cancellations left pharmaceuticals without transport and stranded thousands of Canadians. WestJet, Canada's second-largest airline, told CNN that it is positioning large aircraft onto key routes and adding a limited number of extra flights as it monitors the impact of the strike, which Air Canada said could impact about 130,000 customers each day a suspension continues. When asked when flights would return to normal, Hajdu said the CIRB would review statements from both Air Canada and workers before deciding whether to intervene. 'Don't want to speculate, because it is a process. But in general, sometimes it can take 24 to 48 hours for the board to complete that work,' Hajdu said, adding that, 'Air Canada said it could take between 5 to 10 days for regular services to resume.' This story has been updated with additional content.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
"This government is anti-union and anti-worker": CUPE NS Denounces Use of Bill 107
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, August 16, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CUPE Nova Scotia strongly condemns the federal government's decision to interfere in workers' right to collective bargaining and job action by invoking Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code. "Clearly, this government is anti-union and anti-worker," said Alan Linkletter, CUPE Nova Scotia President. "Forcing workers back on the job instead of supporting free and fair collective negotiations directly contradictions workers' rights that are guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms." Air Canada has asked the government to crush striking workers' Charter rights, and Federal Labour minister Patty Hajdu is ready to deliver. Hajdu announced that the federal government will be invoking Section 107 at a press conference this afternoon, citing the financial welfare of Canadians and the economy at large as a deciding factor for this decision. "She says this move is for the financial security of Canadians—are these workers not Canadians? Does their welfare not matter? How can you be financially secure when you don't even get paid for all of the hours you work?" Contrary to the Minister's remarks, this will not ensure labour peace in Canada. This will only push this fight onto the next group of workers in negotiations, while Air Canda's flight attendants continue to work for a billion-dollar company for free. Flight attendants are only paid when the plane is moving, and work as many as 35 unpaid hours a month performing vital duties that ensure the safe and smooth operation of each flight. Now, instead of paying flight attendants for all the hours they work, Air Canada has clearly sought help from the federal government to continue exploiting their employees. "Minister Hajdu's comments indicate a clear lack of respect for workers' rights," said Sherry Hillier, President of CUPE Newfoundland and Labrador and National General Vice President for Atlantic Canada. "By using Section 107 to force workers back on the job yet again, they're setting a pattern. And that pattern is that Liberals don't care about Canadians." Recent polling data indicates that 9 out of 10 Canadians support Air Canada flight attendants' fight for fair pay. 88% per cent of Canadians believe flight attendants should be paid for all work-related duties including boarding, delays, and safety checks. 76% support raising their pay to reflect the important safety role they play. 59% believe the federal government should respect flight attendants' right to take job action–even if it causes travel disruptions. CUPE represents over 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants across the country, and workers have been demonstrating at Halifax Stanfield International Airport since 6AM. "Messages of support have been pouring in for these workers from across the country," continued Linkletter. "Canadians stand with us. Our elected representatives should, too." View source version on Contacts Sherry HillierPresident, CUPE Newfoundland & LabradorNational General Vice President, CUPE Atlantic and Maritimes regions709-765-2996 Alan LinkletterPresident, CUPE Nova Scotiapresident@ Taylor JohnstonCUPE Atlantic Communications Representativetjohnston@ Haseena ManekCUPE Atlantic Communications Representativehmanek@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
