I worked for Pacific Western Airlines for 15 years. I knew a lot of flight attendants. Most people think it's a "dream" job. If you know a flight attendant you will find out it sure isn't. They get great benefits, but the pay is low and the hours are anything but normal. I remember them telling me about higher rates of menstrual abnormalities, spontaneous fetal loss compared to other women. Some have tilted or tipped uterus's. They have exposure to cosmic radiation, disruption of circadian rhythms (jet lag), long working hours and working across time zones prolonged standing and physical demands of the job. If you've flown a lot you will see how some of the passengers treat them. They are there for your safety, not your servant!
After reading this from a friend, I fully support these dedicated men and women:
Here Is what Air Canada has really offered us:
Air Canada has offered 8% in the first year as a one-time catch-up. Meanwhile, flight attendants have taken a 9% cut to their real wages due to inflation over the course of their last contract since 2015. This offer does not even keep up with inflation - it is, in effect, a pay cut. Air Canada's offer is below inflation.
Air Canada is using misleading "kitchen-sink" figures to make the public believe that flight attendants who rely on food banks and second and third jobs are the ones being greedy. In reality, the company has offered a 17.2% wage increase over four years. Even in year four of Air Canada's offer, in 2028, Air Canada flight attendants would earn less than competitor airlines in Canada earn today. Air Canada's offer is below market value.
Even with the "best offer" that Air Canada can make, an entry-level Air Canada flight attendant working full-time will still earn less than federal minimum wage. Junior Air Canada flight attendants working full-time (75 credit hours per month) currently earn $1,952 per month pre-taxes. With Air Canada's first-year catch-up increase of 8%, their earnings would increase to $2,108.16 per month. Meanwhile, a worker earning federal minimum wage at $17.75 per hour would earn $2,840.00 per month pre-taxes.
Air Canada's offer is below minimum wage.
