Latest news with #AirCanadaRouge
Vancouver Sun
14-05-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Air Canada, flight attendants union head to conciliation amid impasse in contract negotiations
TORONTO — The union representing Air Canada flight attendants says it has filed for conciliation with the federal labour minister after reaching an impasse in contract negotiations with the airline. The Air Canada component of CUPE, which represents 10,000 Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flight attendants, said its top priority is boosting compensation, noting an entry-level full-time salary is roughly $1,951 per month. Its previous contract with the airline, which had been in effect since 2015, expired in March. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'Everything has changed since 2015, but the company refuses to acknowledge reality,' said union president Wesley Lesosky in a press release. 'Our workloads have soared, the cost of living has skyrocketed beyond belief, and our working conditions are getting worse by the day. The status quo won't cut it.' The union also wants to close 'loopholes' in the Canada Labour Code that it says allow airlines to force flight attendants to work an average of 35 hours per month without pay. It said its members complete certain tasks without compensation, such as boarding and deplaning, assisting passengers with mobility issues, and performing pre-flight safety checks. In a statement, Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said the airline plans to work with the federal mediation and conciliation service to reach a deal that 'recognizes our flight attendants' valued contributions to Air Canada.' 'Air Canada has a long history of successful labour relations and fruitful negotiations with its employees, as has again been demonstrated in the recent past,' he said. 'The federally mandated conciliation process will occur over the coming months, so customers can continue to book and travel on Air Canada with full confidence.' Fitzpatrick declined to comment on specifics related to ongoing negotiations regarding compensation, but said the model currently in place is consistent with that at most global carriers. 'That said, we are certainly open to discuss this item with the union as part of a more general conversation about overall compensation in our contract talks,' he said. Once a federal conciliation officer is appointed, there will be a 60-day period for them to work with the airline and union followed by a three-week cooling off period. The union said if there is no agreement reached by then, it may give 72-hours' notice of job action after a strike vote has been taken. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
National Post
14-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
Air Canada, flight attendants union head to conciliation amid impasse in contract negotiations
TORONTO — The union representing Air Canada flight attendants says it has filed for conciliation with the federal labour minister after reaching an impasse in contract negotiations with the airline. Article content Article content The Air Canada component of CUPE, which represents 10,000 Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flight attendants, said its top priority is boosting compensation, noting an entry-level full-time salary is roughly $1,951 per month. Article content Its previous contract with the airline, which had been in effect since 2015, expired in March. Article content Article content 'Our workloads have soared, the cost of living has skyrocketed beyond belief, and our working conditions are getting worse by the day. The status quo won't cut it.' Article content The union also wants to close 'loopholes' in the Canada Labour Code that it says allow airlines to force flight attendants to work an average of 35 hours per month without pay. Article content It said its members complete certain tasks without compensation, such as boarding and deplaning, assisting passengers with mobility issues, and performing pre-flight safety checks. Article content In a statement, Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said the airline plans to work with the federal mediation and conciliation service to reach a deal that 'recognizes our flight attendants' valued contributions to Air Canada.' Article content 'Air Canada has a long history of successful labour relations and fruitful negotiations with its employees, as has again been demonstrated in the recent past,' he said. Article content Article content 'The federally mandated conciliation process will occur over the coming months, so customers can continue to book and travel on Air Canada with full confidence.' Article content Fitzpatrick declined to comment on specifics related to ongoing negotiations regarding compensation, but said the model currently in place is consistent with that at most global carriers. Article content 'That said, we are certainly open to discuss this item with the union as part of a more general conversation about overall compensation in our contract talks,' he said. Article content Once a federal conciliation officer is appointed, there will be a 60-day period for them to work with the airline and union followed by a three-week cooling off period. Article content
CBC
14-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Union representing Air Canada's flight attendants files for conciliation as talks stall
The union representing Air Canada flight attendants says it has filed for conciliation with the federal labour minister after reaching an impasse in contract negotiations with the airline. The Air Canada component of CUPE, which represents 10,000 Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flight attendants, said its top priority is boosting compensation, noting an entry-level full-time salary is roughly $1,951 per month. Its previous contract with the airline, which had been in effect since 2015, expired in March. "Everything has changed since 2015, but the company refuses to acknowledge reality," said union president Wesley Lesosky in a press release. "Our workloads have soared, the cost of living has skyrocketed beyond belief, and our working conditions are getting worse by the day. The status quo won't cut it." The union also wants to close what it calls loopholes in the Canada Labour Code that it says allow airlines to force flight attendants to work an average of 35 hours per month without pay. It said its members complete certain tasks without compensation, such as boarding and deplaning, assisting passengers with mobility issues, and performing pre-flight safety checks. WATCH | Air Canada flight attendants contemplate strike: Air Canada flight attendants contemplate strike 1 month ago Duration 1:30 CUPE represents 10,000 Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flight attendants who are pushing to end unpaid work as part of ongoing labour negotiations with the airline, as their contract expires today. Currently, attendants are only paid for the time the plane is in the air. In a statement, Air Canada spokeperson Peter Fitzpatrick said the airline plans to work with the federal mediation and conciliation service to reach a deal that "recognizes our flight attendants' valued contributions to Air Canada." "Air Canada has a long history of successful labour relations and fruitful negotiations with its employees, as has again been demonstrated in the recent past," he said. "The federally mandated conciliation process will occur over the coming months, so customers can continue to book and travel on Air Canada with full confidence." Fitzpatrick declined to comment on specifics related to ongoing negotiations regarding compensation, but said the model currently in place is consistent with that at most global carriers. "That said, we are certainly open to discuss this item with the union as part of a more general conversation about overall compensation in our contract talks," he said. Once a federal conciliation officer is appointed, there will be a 60-day period for them to work with the airline and union followed by a three-week cooling-off period. The union said if there is no agreement reached by then, it may give 72-hours' notice of job action after a strike vote has been taken.
National Post
14-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
Air Canada, flight attendant union head to conciliation amid impasse in negotiations
Article content The union representing Air Canada flight attendants says it has filed for conciliation with the federal labour minister after reaching an impasse in contract negotiations with the airline. Article content Article content The Air Canada component of CUPE, which represents 10,000 Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flight attendants, said its top priority is boosting compensation, noting an entry-level full-time salary is roughly $1,951 per month. Article content Its previous contract with the airline, which had been in effect since 2015, expired in March. Article content Article content 'Everything has changed since 2015, but the company refuses to acknowledge reality,' said union president Wesley Lesosky in a press release. Article content 'Our workloads have soared, the cost of living has skyrocketed beyond belief, and our working conditions are getting worse by the day. The status quo won't cut it.' Article content The union also wants to close 'loopholes' in the Canada Labour Code that it says allow airlines to force flight attendants to work an average of 35 hours per month without pay. Article content It said its members complete certain tasks without compensation, such as boarding and deplaning, assisting passengers with mobility issues, and performing pre-flight safety checks. Article content In a statement, Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said the airline plans to work with the federal mediation and conciliation service to reach a deal that 'recognizes our flight attendants' valued contributions to Air Canada.' Article content Article content 'Air Canada has a long history of successful labour relations and fruitful negotiations with its employees, as has again been demonstrated in the recent past,' he said. Article content 'The federally mandated conciliation process will occur over the coming months, so customers can continue to book and travel on Air Canada with full confidence.' Article content Fitzpatrick declined to comment on specifics related to ongoing negotiations regarding compensation, but said the model currently in place is consistent with that at most global carriers. Article content 'That said, we are certainly open to discuss this item with the union as part of a more general conversation about overall compensation in our contract talks,' he said. Article content
National Post
14-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
CUPE : Air Canada flight attendant union forced to file for conciliation in fight for fairness
Article content TORONTO — The Air Canada Component of CUPE, the union representing 10,000 flight attendants at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge, has filed for conciliation with the federal minister of labour, citing an impasse with the airline. Article content Article content 'We've made fair, reasonable, and long overdue proposals, but the company appears to be dragging their feet and not taking the process seriously,' said Wesley Lesosky, a flight attendant with 24 years experience and President of the Air Canada Component of CUPE. Article content The contract, which has been in effect since 2015, expired on March 31, 2025. 'Everything has changed since 2015, but the company refuses to acknowledge reality,' said Lesosky. 'Our workloads have soared, the cost of living has skyrocketed beyond belief, and our working conditions are getting worse by the day. The status quo won't cut it.' Article content The top issue for flight attendants is fair compensation. The union is negotiating to put an end to unpaid work, which it has been addressing through its Unfair Canada campaign since December 2024. Article content Flight attendants at Air Canada are struggling to get by. An entry-level flight attendant at Air Canada who works full-time is only earning $1,951.30 per month, which is impossible to live on. Article content The union has also put forward reasonable proposals to improve scheduling and safety and fatigue provisions, retirement security, and working conditions, among others. Article content Since April 2023, with its Unpaid Work Won't Fly campaign, CUPE has been lobbying the federal government to close loopholes in the Canada Labour Code that allow airlines to force flight attendants to work 35 hours per month, on average, without pay. Unpaid duties typically include boarding and deplaning aircraft, assisting passengers with mobility issues, and performing critical pre-flight safety checks. The Liberals have refused to acknowledge the issue or take action to date. Article content Once a federal conciliation officer is appointed, they will have up to sixty days to work with the parties. At the end of the conciliation period, the parties enter a mandatory 21-day cooling off period. If no agreement is reached by the end of the 21-day cooling off period, the union may give 72-hours notice of job action after a strike vote has been taken. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
