NDP presses Liberals to respect collective bargaining process for flight attendants

NDP Leader Don Davies issued the following statement:

“New Democrats believe in all workers’ fundamental right to free and fair collective bargaining. We stand with Air Canada flight attendants in their fight for fair wages and decent working conditions.

Many flight attendants—most of whom are women—currently earn less than minimum wage each month, forcing some to sleep in their cars. They are forced to perform unpaid tasks. These workers are not being paid fairly by their employer for their labour.

The Liberals often claim to stand up for women and workers’ rights—but time and again, they fail to walk the talk.

The Liberal government has a troubling history of interfering in the collective bargaining process and undermining workers' rights. They have repeatedly invoked section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to force workers into binding arbitration. This approach undermines collective bargaining, creates an environment where employers feel less pressure to negotiate in good faith, and erodes trust at the bargaining table.

Let’s be clear: the best and most enduring agreements are those that are negotiated—not imposed—through good-faith dialogue.

New Democrats are calling on the Liberal government to ensure a fair process for Air Canada flight attendants currently fighting for better wages and conditions. The government must allow collective bargaining to run its course and avoid creating incentives for the employer to walk away from the table.

We believe the government’s role is to support a fair process, not to interfere in ways that compromise workers’ rights.

The NDP is the party of workers. We stand with flight attendants and with workers across the country who are fighting for fair wages and better working conditions.

We urge the Liberal government to respect the collective bargaining rights of flight attendants and commit to refraining from using section 107 as a tool of intervention in their ongoing negotiations.”