Latest news with #labournegotiations
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
CBC
13-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Alberta public sector workers vote in favour of strike action following failed negotiations
Thousands of workers employed by the Alberta government have voted in favour of a strike, after labour negotiations reached a standstill last month. In a statement Tuesday, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, which represents more than 23,000 provincial employees, delivered a 90.1 per cent strike mandate. Of the eight union locals participating in the vote, 80 per cent of eligible employees cast a ballot, the AUPE said. Results have been provided to the Alberta Labour Relations Board for formal confirmation and verification, the union said. "This mandate underscores the urgent need for fair wages, improved working conditions, and genuine job security for the future," the union said in a statement Tuesday. "Historically, strong strike mandates are a powerful tool to bring most employers back to the bargaining table." Members participated in the vote from Thursday to Monday, including workers across a wide range of government services, including health, law enforcement and social services. AUPE members include a broad range of public sector employees such as corrections officers, hospital staff, social workers and parks employees. CBC News has reached out to the Alberta government for comment. A 'good deal' Despite the results, a strike is not a certainty. The strike vote is valid for 120 days but the union said it's bargaining committee is focused on reaching a "good deal" through continued negotiations. Within the 120-day window, workers can walk off the job with 72-hours notice. Wages have been at the centre of the labour dispute. According to the union, it asked for wage increases of 24 per cent over four years, while the province offered 11.5 per cent. On April 16, the union told members negotiations had reached an impasse and that it was preparing to hold a strike vote following a formal cooling off period if mediation efforts failed to reach a deal. The union says it continues to push for wages that reflect "real inflation and fair compensation for its members." The Alberta government, meanwhile, has since applied for lockout, a measure employers can use to apply pressure to negotiations.
