As Air Canada flight attendants begin voting this week on whether to accept a settlement offer from the airline, the workers union has issued a message to passengers and the public at large, expressing gratitude and forbearance, but also showing the ongoing frustration that ultimately resulted in a strike action from Aug. 16 to 19, and which may influence the result of the vote.
The message “to our passengers,” from Henly Larden, Air Canada flight attendant & VP of CUPE 4094, reads as follows:
“The past weeks will go down in history for airline workers in Canada. 10,000 flight attendants stood up to Canada’s federal government and one of the largest companies in the country to end unpaid work.
Because of our collective courage in standing up to their intimidation, we made important strides. But we still have not crossed the finish line in our goal of ending unpaid work. This remains an emotional time for flight attendants.
I want to speak directly to our passengers to explain why. But first, I want to convey the deep gratitude we hold for our passengers, now more than ever. You have given us the passion and purpose to keep on during trying times.
It was never our intention to inconvenience our passengers. All we wanted was fair wages and to be recognized as the safety professionals we are trained to be. When we went on strike on Aug. 16, nine out of 10 Canadians still said they supported us and our struggle for fairness. We will never forget your support.
Now, a mediated tentative agreement has been brought forward. But the frustration persists because we cannot ignore the fact that our voices – individual and collective – were stifled by our company and by the government that is meant to represent us, not repress us.
Each and every one of us will have an opportunity to assess the agreement on its merits and cast our vote to ratify or not – free from undue pressure or influence.
What is clear to me, and to many of my colleagues, is that our struggle to be recognized is not over. Unpaid work is not over. We have made important progress, but our job is far from done.
Although we will not be returning to a picket line this year, we will continue pushing those responsible for putting us in our current predicament and the ones with the power to change it: the government of Canada.
We will continue this fight, with public rallies and political lobbying. But in order to be successful, we still need the support of you – our passengers.
In solidarity and with utmost gratitude,
Hugh Pouliot
CUPE Communications
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