CUPE postpones job action for Flair flight attendants

On Dec. 7, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) filed a 72-hour strike notice for Local 4060, representing 139 flight attendants who work for ultra-low-cost carrier Flair Airlines.

The union issued the strike notice following a Dec. 5 mediated session with the employer in which the two sides failed to reach agreement over outstanding items, including wages and pensions as well as time credits/scheduling issues.

But the union now says recent actions by Flair Airlines have raised concerns for the job security of CUPE 4060 members–actions the union will be challenging at the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB). The job action by Flair’s 139 flight attendants scheduled to begin at midnight on Dec. 10 has now been called off.

CUPE said the airline issued memos to employees advising them that anyone taking part in the job action would not be scheduled for further work, and that anyone coming to work and crossing a picket line would receive an additional $150/day as a strike-breaker bonus. CUPE regards these communications by Flair as contrary to Canadian labour law and will be launching a number of challenges with the CIRB.

The company’s strategy of illegally tilting the balance of power in its favour has put CUPE members in a precarious position where they could be punished for exercising their rights under the law, noted CUPE national representative Gary Yee.

“As with any labour dispute after bargaining has broken down, our intent with the job action was to put pressure on the employer while it continued to operate the airline,” said Yee. “But Flair’s threats of possible illegal actions could jeopardize our members’ job security, and we can’t allow that to happen.”

Yee said that the union would first need to deal with Flair’s unfair labour practices at the CIRB before continuing with any job action.

“For the past several weeks, this employer has steadfastly refused to step away from its position of two-tier wages and benefits, which is fundamentally unfair,” added Yee. “Flair is transparently engaging in a divide and conquer strategy aimed at driving a wedge between workers in order to compete with other ultra-low-cost carriers. It is completely unfair to pay one group of flight attendants 30 per cent less for doing the same work as other flight attendants.”

Flair has Canadian bases in Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Kelowna and Abbotsford. Since being organized in November 2017, Local 4060 has been in bargaining with the airline for nearly a year.