Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees had reached a tentative four-year agreement in August. CUPE has now requested a cancellation of mediation, requesting that the wage component of the agreement be moved directly to arbitration. Air Canada said in a press release. CUPE represents over 10,000 flight attendants at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge.
Air Canada and CUPE settle on an agreement
The agreement was settled without concessions from the Union and included improvements to cabin crew’s wages, pensions and benefits, with additional work to modernise compensation for workers on the ground.
Both Air Canada and CUPE accepted wage portion mediation; if no agreement is reached, the arbitration process will continue by the Canada Industrial Relations Board. No labour disruption was also agreed by both parties, meaning that flights and work will continue as normal with no interruptions for passengers and workers alike. The wage portion will now be moving directly to arbitration.
Details of the contract include pay for flight attendants before and after take-off
The Air Canada and CUPE dispute was kicked into mediation after the latter had refused to accept a tentative agreement reached after its members had first staged a massive strike in August.
Negotiations took place for the first time in over 30 years, changing ground pay provisions. Now, flight attendants will be paid for their work before take-off and after landings. Flight attendants on narrow-body aircraft are now contracted to 60 minutes of pay at 50% of their regular hourly wage in the first year of the agreement. By the fourth year of the contract, this will rise to 70% of their hourly wage. For aircraft that are wider-bodied, the contract details that 70 minutes will be paid at the same rate.
For flight attendants on narrow-body aircraft, the contract provides for 60 minutes paid at 50 per cent of the regular hourly wage in the first year of the agreement, gradually rising to 70 per cent of the hourly wage in the fourth year of the contract. For larger, wide-body aircraft, the contract provides for 70 minutes paid at the same rates.
About Air Canada
Air Canada is Canada’s largest airline, holding a Four-Star ranking from Skytrax. They provide flights to more than 180 airports in Canada, the United States and internationally on six continents.
Its loyalty program, Aeroplan, allows members to earn and redeem points with 45 partner airlines and various other partners. Through Air Canada Vacations, it offers extensive travel packages, including hotel, car rentals, cruises and merchandise products.
Air Canada has a goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and is a publicly traded company.
What do you think of these Air Canada CUPE negotiations and the outcome? Do share your thoughts in the comments.
