Latest news with #ShanynElliott
Canada News.Net
4 days ago
- Business
- Canada News.Net
Air Canada faces strike threat as attendants demand pay overhaul
MONTREAL/TORONTO: Air Canada is facing mounting pressure in contract talks after hundreds of its cabin crew members staged demonstrations at major airports, protesting against unpaid labor and demanding wage increases. At Toronto Pearson International Airport, about 700 mostly female flight attendants in dark grey uniforms carried signs declaring "unpaid work won't fly," according to the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents more than 10,000 Air Canada attendants. The union said a strike could be called as early as August 16 if no deal is reached. The timing threatens to disrupt Canada's largest airline's peak summer travel season. The company recently reported a drop in second-quarter profit due to weaker passenger traffic to the U.S. market. The dispute centers on the airline's long-standing pay structure. Like most carriers, Air Canada only pays cabin crew from the time an aircraft begins moving. CUPE wants attendants compensated for all hours worked, including boarding, deplaning, safety checks, waiting between flights, and handling emergencies. Strike committee chair Shanyn Elliott said attendants average about 35 hours of unpaid work per month. She also pointed out that the last contract was signed a decade ago, leaving wages trailing inflation and forcing some attendants to rely on food banks or share bunk rooms. CUPE is also seeking higher pay for recruits, saying the current rates are unsustainable given the cost of living. Air Canada said it remains committed to negotiating an agreement that would make its flight attendants the highest paid in the country while ensuring the company's long-term growth. The protests did not disrupt flights, and both sides say they prefer to reach a deal at the bargaining table. Federal mediators are involved in the talks, and Canada's Minister of Jobs and Families has expressed confidence in the process. The push from Air Canada's attendants mirrors a broader trend across North America, where cabin crew at several U.S. airlines have won improved pay and compensation for pre-flight duties through recent negotiations. Passengers watching Monday's demonstrations expressed mixed feelings. "I hope flight attendants get a fair contract and they deserve it," said 73-year-old traveler Jim Ken, who was flying to Malta. "I just hope everything goes smoothly… for both sides." Jennifer Kozelj, press secretary to Canada's Minister of Jobs and Families, said both sides are working with federal mediators. "We have faith in their ability to reach an agreement. Canadians expect them to work this out at the bargaining table."
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Air Canada pay talks intensify as cabin crew protest, threaten strike
Advt Advt Hundreds of cabin crew members took their fight to major Canadian airports on Monday, picketing against unpaid labor, as talks on wages intensify between Air Canada and its flight attendants this week ahead of a possible strike.A group of 700 mostly female flight attendants in crisp dark grey uniforms demonstrated at Toronto Pearson International Airport, donning signs with messages like "unpaid work won't fly," according to The Canadian Union of Public Employees, which said the contention is a key issue in contract talks with the carrier as a possible strike may come as early as August 16.A walkout during the busy summer travel season would be a blow for Canada's largest carrier, which recently reported a drop in second-quarter profit, weighed by weak passenger traffic to its key US negotiations between Air Canada and the union representing more than 10,000 flight attendants are further testing the way airlines compensate cabin crews, following earlier gains by cabin crew at some US airlines have paid cabin crew members only when planes are in motion. But in their latest contract negotiations, flight attendants in North America have sought compensation for hours worked, including for tasks like boarding passengers and waiting around the airport before and between Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents Air Canada flight attendants , has said it is also asking for higher pay for members, especially for recent Canada said in a statement it remains at the bargaining table and is focused on achieving a negotiated settlement that would make its flight attendants the best paid in the country, while supporting the long-term growth of the Strike Committee Chair Shanyn Elliott told reporters in Toronto that attendants perform an average of 35 unpaid work hours monthly for safety checks, boarding, deplaning, and passenger emergencies. She said their last contract was signed 10 years ago, so wages lag inflation, and some attendants rely on food banks or shared bunk demonstrations did not impact Air Canada's operations. Both sides have said they want to get a negotiated Ken, 73, an Air Canada passenger who is flying to Malta for vacation, told that he has sympathy for the workers, but is concerned about delays when he returns home in 11 days."I hope flight attendants get a fair contract and they deserve it," he said. "I just hope everything goes smooth ... for both sides."Jennifer Kozelj, press secretary to Canada's Minister of Jobs and Families, said both sides are working with federal mediators."We have faith in their ability to reach an agreement. Canadians expect them to work this out at the bargaining table."
CTV News
6 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
‘Without us, flights don't take off': Strike Committee Chair on Air Canada flight attendants
Watch CUPE Strike Committee Chair Shanyn Elliott says flight attendants are 'standing really strong behind our union' during ongoing negotiations.
CTV News
6 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Air Canada flight attendants ‘mobilizing' at major airports as strike threat grows
Air Canada flight attendants could go on strike if a new agreement isn't reached by Friday, Aug. 15. More than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants could go on strike as early as Saturday if a new agreement isn't reached between their union and Air Canada by Friday, Aug. 15 — while the airline's flight attendants are also 'mobilizing' simultaneously at airports in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary on Monday. 'You'll see flight attendants in their uniforms, standing in silence in support of their union while they negotiate with our employer,' said Shanyn Elliott, Mobilization and Engagement Committee co-chair with the Air Canada component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), in an interview with CTV News. Union members plan to negotiate with Air Canada at the bargaining table this week. If the two sides aren't able to reach a new tentative agreement, workers could walk off the job as early as 12:01 a.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 16. Key issues are wages, unpaid work Elliott says both sides are still unable to find common ground on wages and unpaid hours, especially since flight attendants are required to do many duties for which they are not paid. 'Any of our federally regulated safety checks — we are not compensated for,' said Elliott. 'Our boarding, deplaning, if there's a medical emergency on the ground and we're providing vital first aid, we're not compensated for that.' She says these responsibilities fall outside paid working hours, something the union argues needs to change. 'As well as, everybody gets frustrated with delays, we're right there with you,' Elliott said. 'Passengers will actually be compensated for those delays, while we're on duty, in uniform, at work -- and we're not compensated at all.' When it comes to wages, Bloomberg reported earlier this week that Air Canada offered a 32.5 per cent wage increase for flight attendants in contract talks. 'We can confirm, however, that we have made a proposal to the union that would make our flight attendants the best paid in Canada — including addressing the issue of ground pay — in recognition of their contributions to the success of our airline,' the airline said in a statement, adding it would not comment on specific numbers during the bargaining process. 'Air Canada remains at the table and is focused on achieving a deal with CUPE that recognizes the contributions of its flight attendants and supports the competitiveness and long-term growth of the company,' said vice-president of communications Christophe Hennebelle, in an email to CTV News. But the union says it has received no such offer. 'Air Canada has never presented the offer reported by Bloomberg,' said Hugh Pouliot, spokesperson for CUPE, in an email to CTV News. The potential strike comes after 99.7 per cent of members of the Air Canada component of CUPE voted in favour of a strike mandate last Tuesday. The union must provide 72 hours' notice of strike action, which would need to be issued on Wednesday if they plan on walking off the job on Saturday. 'Guess what? It's too late' It might be too late for passengers to buy travel insurance in response to cancelled flights, according to Martin Firestone, president of Travel Secure Inc. travel insurance brokerage — but he recommends buying a refundable ticket with another airline as a backup plan. 'The ship has sailed for travel insurance, trip cancellation and interruption plans. It is now a known cause, and I'm getting lots of calls from people who want to buy it now — but guess what? It's too late,' said Firestone in an interview with CTV News. 'The ones who were prudent enough to buy it when they booked their trip... they will now be able to benefit if it should happen.' Firestone says there is still one option left for passengers looking to protect their plans. 'What's left? It's the opportunity to look for refundable tickets from a competitor,' he said. 'In case the strike does not happen, they will then of course be able to get their money back — and if it does happen, they were smart, they did it.' Firestone added the cost of a refundable ticket usually comes at a higher price, but it's a good backup plan if you have a lot of other expenses on the line. 'They could be missing not just the airfare to be reimbursed — they've got hotels, they already have so many other things that could be non-refundable.'
