CUPE: 88% of Canadians support Air Canada flight attendants, new poll confirms

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New polling conducted by Abacus Data confirms that nearly 9-in-10 Canadians support Air Canada flight attendants’ fight for fair pay – and they want the federal government to back off and let them negotiate it freely and fairly.

• 88% per cent of Canadians believe flight attendants should be paid for all work-related duties including boarding, delays, and safety checks.
• 59% believe the federal government should respect flight attendants’ right to take job action – even if it causes travel disruptions.

A decisive majority support flight attendants’ efforts in this critical round of bargaining.

• 76% support raising their pay to reflect the important safety role they play.
• 71% support Air Canada matching or exceeding competitor airline pay as Canada’s flagship carrier.
• 80% support raising flight attendant pay to meet the rising cost-of-living.
• 59% think Air Canada’s wage increase for junior flight attendants is still too low to live on in major cities, and only 19% think Air Canada’s wage offer is fair.

The survey also confirms the public is tuning in, with 43% saying they are following the process closely.

“Despite Air Canada’s campaign of half-truths against their cabin crew, Canadians clearly stand on the side of fairness – with flight attendants,” said Wesley Lesosky, President of the Air Canada Component of CUPE.

“Air Canada wants to force flight attendants to continue working for free, and reinforce the gender wage gap for our female-dominated workforce, and they want the federal government to help them do it. It’s clear where Canadians stand. Minister Hajdu must stand on the side of workers’ rights and fairness, and reject Air Canada’s request to trample our Charter rights to bargain an end to unpaid work.”

The survey of 1500 across Canada was conducted on August 14-15 with a weighted sample. Read more here.