NDP to reintroduce bill to end unpaid work for flight attendants

OTTAWA — On Tuesday, NDP Leader Don Davies announced that the party will reintroduce a bill in the House of Commons this fall aimed at ending the unfair practice of unpaid work for flight attendants in Canada.

The announcement follows a national day of action on Monday, during which more than 1,500 Air Canada flight attendants protested in five cities and outside four major airports to demand an end to unpaid labour.

“New Democrats stand with the flight attendants calling for an end to poverty wages and unpaid work,” said Davies. “Every hour worked should be an hour paid. Workers across Canada are facing a rising cost of living—every dollar counts. The Liberals have done nothing to stop major airlines from exploiting their workers—most of whom are women. Instead, they handed those same airlines billions in taxpayer dollars. Workers deserve better.”

Davies says the NDP will reintroduce former MP Bonita Zarrillo’s bill, which would require airlines to pay flight attendants their full rate of pay for all hours worked. Currently, Canadian flight attendants are not paid for much of the work they perform when the plane isn’t in motion—including safety demonstrations during boarding, pre-flight safety checks and preparation, assisting passengers with mobility challenges or special needs, and responding to medical or safety emergencies on the ground.

“While the CEOs of Canada’s biggest airlines make millions of dollars each year, they’re making their staff work for free—this is completely unacceptable,” added Davies. “This ongoing abusive practice, allowed to continue under successive Liberal and Conservative governments, must end now.

“Fixing this systemic unfairness will ensure all flight attendants in Canada are getting paid for their work and passengers continue to receive the service they rely on. The NDP is the only party that stands with workers, and we will fight to get this done.”