The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) stands in solidarity with more than 10,500 striking Air Canada flight attendants across the country who are fighting for a fair contract and an end to unpaid work. ONA condemns the federal government’s decision to order flight attendants back to work for an employer making sky-high profits while demanding free work from their employees.  

Flight attendants are highly trained professionals who deserve respect, dignity, and basic fairness. The federal government’s heavy-handed decision to invoke s.107 of the Canada Labour Code violates flight attendants’ constitutional rights and undermines the collective rights of all workers.

No one should be forced to work for free, yet on average Air Canada flight attendants – more than 70 per cent of whom are women – work 35 hours unpaid every month. Air Canada only pays wages when the plane is moving, not for thousands of hours of essential safety and service duties, from boarding and deplaning to emergencies.

Meanwhile, starting wages for a flight attendant are as low as $1,900 per month, despite the high-cost location of most major airports. Many rely on foodbanks and work two or three jobs to make ends meet.

Their fight is our fight.

As nurses, we experience daily the deliberate undervaluing of women’s work. A victory ending unpaid work for flight attendants is one we can all build on to defeat exploitative and sexist practices wherever they happen.

As workers, we know that exercising our collective power through organizing and action is how we win.  Nurses know firsthand how binding arbitration is a trap that fails to deliver. We must defend the Charter rights of workers.  

ONA stands with unions across the country and urges the federal government to immediately withdraw the order under s.107 to end the legal strike by the Air Canada Component of CUPE. We demand Air Canada negotiate fairly, end unpaid work, and reach an agreement that reflects the contributions flight attendants make every day.

Learn More

• Unfair Canada Campaign: https://unfaircanada.com/
• Check out the Air Canada Component of CUPE on Facebook or Instagram.
• Read ONA President Erin Ariss’ open letter to CUPE flight attendants: An Open Letter to my Sisters at Air Canada · F-Word · ONA Magazine