[Canada] Proposed legislation to pay flight attendants pre- and post-flight

In Canada, legislation to compensate flight attendants for the work that they carry out before and after their in-plane tasks has been proposed to Parliament, HRD reports.

Lianne Rood - Conservative MP - introduced Bill C-409 - An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (hours of work of flight attendants). The Bill specifies that employers must include the time an employee spends “carrying out all pre-flight and post-flight duties relating to aircraft security and passenger service, including assisting with embarking and disembarking and pre-flight cabin and passenger safety checks.” 

Currently, flight attendants do not start being paid until their plane is in motion. Their compensation ends as soon as the plane stops at the gate post-landing.

In a LinkedIn post, Ms Rood said, “That is unfair and puts many women and diverse Canadians at a disadvantage.”

In 2022, the Airline Division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) reportedly urged airlines to pay flight attendants forced to work on the ground. According to the union, workers are not compensated during delays before take-off and after landing.

In addition, the proposed legislation urges employers to pay flight attendants for “completing mandatory training programs” and for “attending at the workplace at the call of the employer and at the disposal of the employer, including during a flight delay, whether or not the delay is within the employer’s control.”

Source: HRD

(Links and quotes via original reporting)

In Canada, legislation to compensate flight attendants for the work that they carry out before and after their in-plane tasks has been proposed to Parliament, HRD reports.

Lianne Rood - Conservative MP - introduced Bill C-409 - An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (hours of work of flight attendants). The Bill specifies that employers must include the time an employee spends “carrying out all pre-flight and post-flight duties relating to aircraft security and passenger service, including assisting with embarking and disembarking and pre-flight cabin and passenger safety checks.” 

Currently, flight attendants do not start being paid until their plane is in motion. Their compensation ends as soon as the plane stops at the gate post-landing.

In a LinkedIn post, Ms Rood said, “That is unfair and puts many women and diverse Canadians at a disadvantage.”

In 2022, the Airline Division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) reportedly urged airlines to pay flight attendants forced to work on the ground. According to the union, workers are not compensated during delays before take-off and after landing.

In addition, the proposed legislation urges employers to pay flight attendants for “completing mandatory training programs” and for “attending at the workplace at the call of the employer and at the disposal of the employer, including during a flight delay, whether or not the delay is within the employer’s control.”

Source: HRD

(Links and quotes via original reporting)