Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu has emphasized the need for additional details from airlines and unions to address recent claims of unpaid work within the aviation industry. The federal government recently disclosed preliminary findings from an investigation initiated six months ago following allegations raised during contract negotiations between Air Canada and its flight attendants’ union, which led to a strike by over 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants in August 2025.
The labor dispute primarily centered on assertions by the Canadian Union of Public Employees’ Air Canada division that flight attendants were not receiving compensation for certain tasks, such as ground duties. Employers in federally regulated sectors like aviation are required to ensure that employee compensation meets or exceeds the federal minimum wage threshold.
While the initial phase of the inquiry did not uncover evidence of compensation practices falling below the mandated standards in the aviation industry, it did highlight the need for a closer examination of compensation practices for part-time and entry-level flight attendants. Minister Hajdu explained that although stories from union members regarding uncompensated delays were shared, these anecdotes could not be conclusively verified through payment records due to insufficient detailed data provided by both unions and employers.
The investigation, triggered by the Air Canada labor dispute but encompassing the broader Canadian aviation sector, identified a case in a smaller northern airline where potential underpayment was identified. The department is collaborating with the unnamed employer to rectify this discrepancy.
The prevailing compensation model for flight attendants in the industry, known as the credit-based model, calculates compensation based on flight time, per diems, and supplementary benefits rather than an hourly rate. Minister Hajdu indicated that while the effectiveness of this system is under review, it has been mutually accepted by most unions and airlines through years of collective bargaining in Canada.
A meeting involving airline and union representatives is scheduled in Ottawa to discuss minimum wage requirements in detail. The government is urging airlines to conduct self-audits on payment records to ensure compliance with the Labor Code. Despite some skepticism from union representatives like Wesley Lesosky, who criticized the reliance on airlines’ self-regulation, Minister Hajdu affirmed the government’s readiness to enforce compliance through penalties if necessary.
Both Air Canada and Porter Airlines have expressed satisfaction with the investigation’s outcomes, with no evidence of unpaid work found at Air Canada, and affirmation that the credit-based compensation system aligns with legal standards. The airlines have committed to participating fully in forthcoming phases of the probe.
The article concludes by mentioning that ongoing negotiations, including arbitration processes, between airlines and unions will play a pivotal role in resolving wage-related issues within the sector. Minister Hajdu stressed the importance of these discussions in establishing clear wage guidelines to promote positive labor-employer relationships moving forward.
