TORONTO, March 10, 2025 /CNW/ – The federal government’s March 7 statement encouraging additional privatization of Canada’s airports is a bad idea shown to siphon off profits, suppress wages, and increase costs for travelers, says Unifor.

“If your goal is to improve a public service, then pushing for privatization is the fastest way to fail,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Privatization of Canada’s critical infrastructure, like our airports, can put profit over public safety, removes public accountability, and as many airport workers know, suppresses wages and working conditions for those affected.”

The government statement does not change the existing governance model or any laws but explicitly outlines ways that airports can partner with private entities to further privatize operations under existing legislation.

Unifor urges airport authorities not to follow through with additional steps to privatize National Airport System (NAS) airports.

“We’re in a national crisis, with Canada’s very sovereignty being threatened, and the direction from the top is to sell off more of our transportation infrastructure?” continued Payne. “Privatization is not free money, we always pay it back with interest, and often with regret. The most effective way to prevent privatization remorse in the future is to not sell off public infrastructure today. Just say no.” 

Unifor’s Air Transportation Workers’ Charter of Rights advocates for nine changes to improve working conditions that will directly lead to a better travel experience.

Unifor represents 16,000 members across Canada in the aviation sector.

Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

MAY 21, 2024

MONTREAL—Unifor welcomes the Quebec government’s creation of a new aerospace innovation zone in Greater Montreal. Espace Aéro helps meet the aerospace industry’s needs identified by key stakeholders and reflects the strategic role it plays in Quebec’s economy. This initiative will help strengthen Montreal’s position as one of the world’s leading aerospace industrial centres and improve future prospects for thousands of the sector’s workers.

“We are calling on the federal government to renew its commitment to the Canadian aerospace sector. Work must begin now with all industry stakeholders to develop a truly national aerospace industrial strategy,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “In the face of stiff international competition, with many countries adopting strategic frameworks and targeted support measures, it is crucial that Canada acts decisively.”

While Unifor stands ready to work with the Quebec government, businesses and other industry players to ensure the success of this new innovation zone and a prosperous future for Quebec aerospace, the union has also called on Ottawa to take action and fully capitalize on Quebec’s investments.

“Investing in aerospace research and development is essential to ensure the long-term viability of this industry and protect high quality, good jobs, particularly given the many challenges this sector has faced since the pandemic,” said Daniel Cloutier, Quebec Director of Unifor. “All Unifor members active in the cluster will benefit from today’s announcements, particularly at Pratt & Whitney Canada, Bombardier, CAE and Héroux-Devtek.

About Unifor 

Unifor is the largest private-sector union in Quebec and Canada, representing more than 320,000 members in all sectors of the economy. In Quebec, Unifor represents nearly 55,000 members, including more than 6,000 in aerospace, and is affiliated with Quebec’s largest central labour body, the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ).

TORONTO , Dec. 18, 2023 /CNW/ – Unifor aviation members are gathering today at Pearson International Airport during the busy holiday travel season to bring awareness to poor working conditions in the sector that lead to delays, cancellations, lost baggage, and packed airports.

“We all know that travel chaos is common, even without the holiday rush,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President.

“From the terminal to the tarmac, Canadians need a plan that improves working conditions in the air transportation industry and ends contract flipping, so the public’s travel experience can be a smooth journey. Our members’ working conditions are the public’s travel conditions.”

Air transportation workers are calling on the federal government, airport authorities, and airlines to finally deal with the root causes of travel chaos by improving wages and working conditions in the sector – everything ranging from unpredictable hours to customer frustration and contract flipping need to be addressed.

On Unifor’s Day of Action at Pearson Airport, the union is clearing the runway for its Air Transportation Workers’ Charter of Rights, which highlights nine rights the Canadian government must meet to ensure the industry can fulfill their Air Passenger Protection Regulations — dubbed the “air passenger bill of rights” — and deliver a chaos-free travel experience.

Frontline aviation workers will be distributing leaflets that highlight the Charter

The union’s Charter demands the government, airport authorities and airlines do more to ensure workers in the aviation industry have fair pay and fair scheduling, protection from contracting out and access to safe and effective reporting mechanisms when problems arise.

It also puts pressure on the government, airports and airlines to address unsafe and unsustainable workloads, requires employers provide adequate, high-quality training, ensure a harassment-free environment, deliver a healthy and safe workplace and ensure a say in technological change. 

“The fact is: airports and airlines cannot even meet the federal government’s passenger bill of rights without improving job quality and increasing the industry’s workforce. This means passengers will have to rely on fines and refunds instead of a travel experience we all deserve,” said Unifor National Aviation Director Sandi McManus.

“Fines and refunds are not a consolation prize for cancelled vacations, delayed visits with family and friends or missed business meetings.”

The public is urged to show support for real change in the aviation industry by signing Unifor’s petition to the prime minister and federal transport minister.

Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy, including 16,000 members in the aviation sector. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

TORONTO, Oct. 6, 2023 /CNW/ – Unifor has released its own Air Transportation Workers’ Charter of Rights asserting that the actions taken by the federal government and airport authorities to solve travel chaos are not enough to solve the root of the problem— inadequate working conditions. 

“Our members’ working conditions are the public’s travel conditions,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. 

“The government’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations will not solve the chaos in the industry. These inadequate rules combined to low airport standards contribute to delays, lost baggage, and general chaos. The government and Canada’s airports can and must do more to improve working conditions while addressing harassment and stress workers in the airline sector face.”

Unifor’s Air Transportation Workers’ Charter of Rights highlights nine rights the Canadian government must meet to ensure the industry can fulfill the air passenger protection regulations — dubbed the “air passenger bill of rights” — and delivering a chaos free travel experience.

The union’s Charter demands the government and airport authorities do more to ensure workers in the aviation industry have fair pay and fair scheduling, protection from contracting out and access to safe and effective reporting mechanisms when problems arise.

The Charter also puts pressure on the federal government to address unsafe and unsustainable workloads, requires employers provide adequate, high-quality training, ensure a harassment-free environment, deliver a healthy and safe workplace and ensure a say in technological change.  

“Fines and refunds are not a consolation prize for cancelled vacations, delayed visits with family and friends or missed business meetings.,” said Sandi McManus, Unifor’s Director of Airlines. “Without an improvement in working conditions, travel conditions won’t change – even with a passenger bill of rights.”

Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy, including 16,000 members in the aviation sector. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

TORONTO, June 20, 2023 /CNW/ – Unifor believes the government’s new Air Transportation Accountability legislation doesn’t address the root problems of air passenger travel – working conditions in the sector.

“They’re missing a huge piece of the puzzle,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. 

“Transport Canada expects this legislation to be used to improve conditions at airports, but they’ve missed the mark by not acknowledging air transportation workers. Our members’ working conditions are the public’s travel conditions and right now, neither are nearly as good as they should be.”

Transport Canada released C-52: An Act to enact the Air Transportation Accountability Act and to amend the Canada Transportation Act and the Canada Marine Act this afternoon, which introduces the ability for the government to impose service standards on flights and flight-related services. The service standards will not be met if the government doesn’t also focus on improving standards of work in airports and on flights to ensure enough staff are attracted and retained in the industry to meet the requirements.

Unifor and air transportation workers have been calling on the government to improve working conditions for months. The union’s demands include requiring airport authorities and other organizations in the air transportation sector to pay a living wage instead of the bare minimum and ending the worst effects of contract flipping by implementing full successor rights. 

Improving the travel experience and meeting the standards will require a revamp of how the industry treats workers and values the work that is performed at all stages of service – from checking in luggage to ground handling and customer service, all the way to take-off and landing.

The legislation allows the government to limit the number of aircraft movements at airports, limiting supply instead of meeting passenger demand. The legislation also focuses on noise management and complaint handling and requires airport authorities to develop climate change plans, facing fines and penalties for violating the Act.

These solutions are simply not enough.

Leslie Dias, Unifor’s Director of Airlines said fines will do little to address air transportation woes. 

“If the quality of jobs in the sector continues to erode, the service standard will never be met. This Act is completely devoid of any kind of minimum requirements for the workers who are expected to maintain the standard, such as living wages, successorship rights for contract flipping, and adequate quality training,” said Dias.

Unifor represents 16,000 members across Canada in the aviation sector.

Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad and strives to create progressive change for a better future.