Patty Hajdu, Canada’s Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, announced that an investigation into complaints of unpaid labor in the airline industry is under way. She said she hopes to wrap up the review in early December. This overview like this one came in the wake of a major labour disruption that saw hundreds of Air Canada flights grounded by the airline’s passenger service agents.
This is where Hajdu stepped in and invoked section 107 of the Canada Labour Code. This unprecedented step brought the Air Canada strike and lockout to a close. The Canada Industrial Relations Board intervened to resolve the labour dispute. This move demonstrates the government’s commitment to tackling the issue head-on.
On September 23–24 and again on October 2–3, Employment and Social Development Canada will be conducting National Roundtables. They’re seeking to gather information from industry participants on the issue. Hajdu has given an October 17, 2023 deadline for comments related to unpaid work in the domestic airline industry.
Flight attendants as represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) prepare to mobilize to Ottawa for a demonstration on Parliament Hill. They are demanding an end to what they say is a pervasive epidemic of labor theft. The union has been making the argument that flight attendants do nearly 35 hours a month unpaid work.
Hajdu’s new understanding of the centrality of unpaid work was instrumental in securing workers’ wins in the recent Air Canada labour dispute. She argued that it is critically important to really grasp how we got here.
“It’s really important to understand what the root of this allegation is, how it came to be, what the remedies are, and what all parties think is a best remedy.” – Patty Hajdu
She noted that this concern is not only a Canadian problem. While it is a daunting challenge, she thinks that Canada is in a unique place to step up and lead the way.
“This is obviously not unique to Canada. This is an industry-wide approach. But Canada can lead in terms of solving what I think sounds like a very deep irritant for workers in this industry.” – Patty Hajdu
Hajdu repeated the government’s desire to take a careful approach, saying they don’t want to prejudge the results of that review. She acknowledged that collective agreements among employees and employers are negotiated, underscoring the importance of respecting these agreements while addressing concerns.
“Because these are collective agreements and my understanding is that these are negotiated, the government wants to be very careful about what we do next to make sure that we uphold the right for members and employers to bargain the terms of work and the conditions of work, as they see fit.” – Patty Hajdu
Hajdu has assured all stakeholders that the information gathered during the 10 month review will result in a full, detailed report. Expect the full report to be publicly available by early December.
“All this information will be collected and disseminated in a report that will be publicly available by early December, and then we’ll be able to take appropriate action.” – Patty Hajdu
