Canadian flight attendants rally against unpaid work

Flight attendants across Canada took part in a national day of action on Tuesday, to demand what they say is a no-brainer — that when they’re at work, they should be getting paid.

Unlike most other professions, flight attendants do not get paid when they start their shifts, but rather only from when the plane pushes off from the gate and is in the air until it lands at its destination.

The union representing flight attendants says they work the equivalent of almost one week per month without pay.

“So when we report for work, say eight o’clock in the morning is my report time — I’m doing a pre-flight briefing. I’m doing all of my safety checks, my catering, I’m not paid for that. When we’re down station and passengers are deplaning, we’re not paid for that as well. If there’s a medical and we have to stay on board to assist, we’re not paid for that either,” explains Rena Kisfalvi, a flight attendant and president of CUPE Local 4055.

“They’re required to take [annual] training as safety professionals — a good thing. But that mandatory training for almost three quarters of them is unpaid,” adds Fred Hahn, president of CUPE Ontario.

Kisfalvi says flight attendants also do a lot more than serve customers food and beverages during the flight.

“We’re always doing checks throughout the cabin. We’re ensuring that our passengers are safe and healthy. Post-pandemic there’s been an increase in medical emergencies on board and we are there. We’re trained to deal with that too,” she says.

She adds that flight attendants must be educated in emergency response protocols and first aid. They also have to deal with any eventuality including fires or a death on board.

In addition, they are required to know how various systems in the plane function, including oxygen supply, lighting as well as water and waste and must be able to identify things like propeller abnormalities or structural damage inside an aircraft.

Rena Kisfalvi addresses a rally of flight attendant’s at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport on April 25, 2023. CITYNEWS/Dilshad Burman

CUPE says while they have had some success dealing with individual airlines at the bargaining table, an industry-wide change is needed to ensure flight attendants across the board get paid for all the hours they work.

They’ve launched an awareness campaign called “Unpaid Work Won’t Fly” to call on the federal government and big airlines to take action.

“We need our airline execs to sit down with us and review our collective agreements and recognize that the language has to be in the collective agreement in order for us to be paid appropriately. And that’s where it starts — it starts with our airline execs,” says Kisfalvi.

“The federal government can’t just sit on the sidelines either. They have a role to play here,” adds Hahn.

“What our members are hopeful for is that once our friends and neighbors, others in the community, other folks understand this is happening, people will just organically understand this is unfair and the pressure will mount on the companies to do the right thing.”

The Ministry of Transport says as Canadian airlines are private companies, the government does not regulate their wages aside from setting a minimum wage.

“All airlines set their wages and prices in accordance with their business plans and in some circumstances, collective bargaining agreements. Our government is improving workplace protections for federally-regulated employees, including flight attendants,” says press secretary Nadine Ramadan.

CUPE has also launched a letter writing campaign and are asking Canadians for their support to amplify their voices.

“[We’re] telling you as Canadians, please respect us. We’re here not just for your comfort, we’re here for your safety. And we need to be paid for that,” says Kisfalvi.

“It’s been a standard that’s been ongoing for 70 years. The first flight attendant was paid exactly the way that we’re paid here in 2023. And that has to change.”