Bill C-250

Flight Attendants’ Remuneration Act

An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (flight attendants)

This enactment amends the Canada Labour Code to provide that, in calculating the time in respect of which an employee who is a flight attendant is to be paid, the employer must include the time that the employee spends in carrying out their pre-flight and post-flight duties and in completing mandatory training programs. It also provides that the employer must pay this employee not less than their regular rate of wages for carrying out these duties.

Flight Attendants’ Remunerations Act

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-250, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (flight attendants).

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to introduce the flight attendants' remunerations act.

I thank the hon. member for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie for seconding this bill and for his tireless advocacy for workers' rights.

The legislation addresses a long-standing injustice in Canada's airline industry: the widespread practice of having flight attendants do unpaid work. Canadian flight attendants are currently expected to perform a range of essential duties without compensation when the aircraft is not in motion. This is unacceptable and must end. No one in Canada should be expected to work without pay.

The bill would require airlines to compensate flight attendants for all hours worked, including pre-flight, postflight and training time. It is about ensuring fairness and recognizing the critical role flight attendants play in keeping our vital air transport system moving and passengers safe.

I urge all members to support the bill and end unpaid work in the airline industry once and for all.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)