Flight attendants participated in a national day of action to raise awareness about the unpaid work they’re required to do and to call for changes to how they’re compensated. Dilshad Burman reports.
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.
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