OTTAWA- The union representing Air Canada (AC) flight attendants is raising concerns after a recent bomb threat on a flight exposed the extent of unpaid work in the airline industry.
On June 4th, an Air Canada flight scheduled to depart from Delhi (DEL) to Toronto (YYZ) was grounded due to a bomb threat.
Air Canada Bomb Threat
The flight attendants, who managed the ensuing panic and remained with passengers throughout the ordeal, were only paid for four hours out of the 9.5 hours they spent on duty.
This incident underscores the ongoing issue of unpaid work for flight attendants, who are not compensated for time spent on the ground performing safety-related duties, such as pre-flight safety checks and the boarding and deplaning process.
The union, CUPE, is campaigning against this outdated practice with its “Unpaid Work Won’t Fly” initiative, advocating for fair compensation for all hours worked.
“The day-to-day exploitation of our flight attendants by our multibillion-dollar industry is unacceptable,” stated Wesley Lesosky, President of the Air Canada Component of CUPE, representing approximately 10,000 flight attendants at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge.
But when our crew is asked to respond to a bomb threat on board an aircraft without proper compensation, it crosses a line and must stop immediately.”
Wesley Lesosky, President of the Air Canada Component of CUPE
The union has formally requested that Air Canada pay the crew in full for the hours spent responding to the bomb threat.
The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) office received an email at 10:50 PM on Tuesday stating that a bomb had been planted on the Delhi-Toronto Air Canada flight, officials reported, according to PTI.
“Following standard security protocols, a thorough inspection was conducted and nothing suspicious was found,” said a senior police officer.
Legal action is being taken regarding the incident, he added.
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