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Union claims airlines are ‘flying the plane’ in Ottawa’s unpaid work probe
CUPE says the second phase depends too much on airline self-audits, while early findings found little evidence unpaid work was widespread.
- The Canadian Union of Public Employees criticized the federal airline probe on Wednesday, arguing the process fails to take workers' unpaid work claims seriously.
- Ottawa launched the investigation in August 2025 following a strike by Air Canada flight attendants over allegations that crew members face unpaid work when aircraft are grounded.
- Audit parameters allow airlines to select as few as 40 workers without random sampling, CUPE President Wesley Lesosky said, and the probe misses peak travel seasons when unpaid work is frequent.
- WestJet supports the federal government's 'collaborative approach,' while Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu insisted inspections remain 'rigorous and uncompromising' to ensure compliance.
- Employees who believe they are not being compensated properly should file formal complaints with federal labour, Hajdu's office advised, as Lesosky said the union will continue making cases directly to the public.
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24 Articles
The Toronto Star+3 Reposted by 3 other sources
Union claims airlines are ‘flying the plane’ in Ottawa’s unpaid work probe
OTTAWA - The Canadian Union of Public Employees says the federal government's probe into allegations of unpaid work in the airline sector is not taking workers' arguments seriously.
·Toronto, Canada
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Total News Sources24
Leaning Left17Leaning Right0Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution89% Left
Bias Distribution
- 89% of the sources lean Left
89% Left
L 89%
11%
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