Coordinated gesture of Air Canada on the country

As expected, Air Canada on -board agents have taken action today, in order to put their patterns.

At 1 p.m., actions were organized in the four busiest airports in the country, the Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau International Airport in Montreal, Toronto-Pearson International Airport, Calgary International Airport and Vancouver Vancouver Airport.

This coordinated gesture aimed to advance negotiations with the employers’ part to agree on a new collective agreement.

The scene was similar in the four airports in question. On -board agents formed a line by holding posters with slogans. Hoax or Non -paid work, it’s theftcould we read on some of them. Everything was taking place in silence. The employee’s message: they lend their voice to their union, in whom they trust to negotiate.

In Toronto and Vancouver, there were about 400 on -site on -site and more than 350 on -board agents were present in Montreal. In Vancouver, the unsatisfied employees were in the departure area, a place where all the passengers arriving to take the plane were able to observe them. Some cars that were circulating trusted to demonstrate their support for the demonstrators. No entrance to the airport has been hampered and no theft was delayed.

What the union claims

The collective agreement that binds the Air Canada and Air Canada Jazz on -board agents to their employer has been expired since last March. The two parties did not arrive at an agreement despite having undertaken negotiations from the start of the year.

Employees claim better wages, more time of rest during stopovers, but above all, more hours paid.

Indeed, a few spokespersons interviewed as well as an on-board agent reported that the on-board agents are not paid when they cross the airport to go to the plane, or when they take the boarding and the checks, or during the breffs with the crew and the pilots. The cases where first aid must not be paid to be provided in an emergency, or when a flight is late before taking off.

If the door is not closed and that we are not in the air, we are not paid.

Air Canada indicates that the service period which covers an hour before the flight departed and the 15 minutes after the flight arrived is remunerated and an additional sum is granted If the employee is asked to be on service outside these hours or provide services to passengers on the ground.

The union, which represents 10,400 on -board agents, underlines that employees can work up to 35 hours per week without being paid.

Currently, the basic remuneration of an Air Canada on -board agent would be $ 1951.30 per month for hiring, which represents about $ 30 an hour in the case of Air Canada and $ 26 an hour in the case of red air Canada. According to Air Canada, half of the Main Air Canada farm officers earned more than $ 54,000 in 2024. Red Air Canada, which offers lower remuneration, is excluded from this calculation.

Also according to Air Canada, the hourly wage of a Red Air Canada on -board agent is $ 41.39 after 5 years of service for a red air Canada. However, almost 75 % of agents in this subsidiary have been hired in the past five years.

A minimum remuneration of 65 hours per month as well as a minimum of 10 days of rest are already provided for in the last collective agreement.

A strike in sight?

The members of the union voted at 99.7 % in favor of a strike mandate last month. If they decide to take action, as soon as possible that a strike can be triggered is Saturday August 16 at 12:01 a.m. they must give notice of 72 hours, which would lead them to be able to trigger the strike from Wednesday August 13, at 12:01 am.

Philippe Bonneville, vice-president of the Montreal section of the union ensures that negotiations are continuing and that their goal is Never go on strike.

These negotiations are reminiscent of those which took place between the Air Canada pilots and the employers’ part, mentions the lawyer in labor law Marc Bourdreau. They had avoided a right strike, having heard of an increase of 42 % over 4 years at the last moment. The specter of a strike often takes parts furtherunderlines the lawyer.

The response of the bosses

Air Canada claims to have made an offer to its employees who would make them the best paid in the country.

Regarding the negotiations themselves, Air Canada remains at the negotiation table and strives to reach the SCFP to a negotiated agreement which recognizes the contribution of its on -board agents by offering them the best wages in the country, while supporting the competitiveness and long -term growth of the company.

While refusing to comment on the content of the negotiations, the representative of Air Canada also indicates that Air Canada takes note of the union declaration that his actions will not have an impact on the activities.

He also affirms that the employers’ part respects the right of on -board agents to express themselves and not to provide for disturbances of theft.

With information from Marion Bérubé, Jérémie Bergeron and Corentin Mittet-Magnan