The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has expressed dissatisfaction with the federal government’s investigation into allegations of unpaid work within the airline industry. The probe was initiated by Ottawa in August 2025 following a strike involving Air Canada flight attendants represented by the union, which led to flight cancellations. The union alleged that flight attendants often perform unpaid work during grounded aircraft situations.
Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu instructed her department to examine whether workers in the sector were receiving wages below the federal minimum wage. The initial phase of the investigation, released in February, found limited evidence of widespread unpaid work in the industry. However, concerns were raised regarding part-time and entry-level flight attendants, prompting a closer inspection.
CUPE’s airline division president, Wesley Lesosky, expressed frustration with the initial findings, stating that flight attendants frequently work without pay due to their schedules and payment structures. Lesosky criticized the credit-based compensation system in the Canadian airline sector, emphasizing that it fails to compensate for delayed or grounded flights.
The second phase of the government’s investigation involves airlines conducting self-audits on pay records to identify instances of workers being paid below the federal minimum wage. WestJet has expressed support for the collaborative approach taken by the government in the inquiry, while Air Canada did not provide comments.
CUPE raised concerns that the audit process allows airlines to selectively track a limited number of workers without random sampling, potentially overlooking instances of unpaid work during peak travel seasons. The union argued that without a clear definition of work for flight attendants in Canada’s labor code, determining compliance with federal pay standards is challenging.
Hajdu’s office highlighted that the ongoing probe aims to address any non-compliance with labor regulations in the airline sector, emphasizing the importance of upholding workers’ rights. Employees who believe they are not being fairly compensated are encouraged to file grievances with their unions or lodge formal complaints with the federal labor program.
Lesosky emphasized that CUPE will continue to advocate for fair treatment of flight attendants, even if they feel their concerns were not adequately represented in the investigation. The union aims to raise awareness about the challenges faced by workers in the industry to ensure equitable conditions.