Canadian flight attendants are pushing for fair ground pay amid union negotiations

Canadian flight attendants and their union, CUPE's airline division, have faced chronic workplace issues for the past four decades. Notably, their union has been pushing the federal government and airlines for equitable pay since 2022. A key development came in June 2024 when Conservative MP Lianne Rood proposed Bill C-409 to the House of Commons , which would compensate attendants for training and ground time, which included tasks like aircraft preparation, boarding, deplaning and safety demonstrations. However, the Conservative Party of Canada did not consult with CUPE's airline division in tabling Bill C-409, and CUPE has expressed their uncertainty regarding the Conservative Party's support. In October 2024, NDP MP Bonita Zarrillo tabled Bill C-415 , which goes further by requiring attendants to be paid for all hours worked at their full rate of pay. CUPE and the NDP Party have collaborated to push for this bill . The issue of unpaid ground time first gained media attention in May 2022 but has been a long-standing concern among flight attendants.<br/>