Every year on May 31, CUPE celebrates International Flight Attendant Day to recognize the work flight attendants do around the world every day to keep the public safe in the air and on the ground.
It’s also an opportunity to celebrate the progress we’ve made as a union to make our jobs safer and make life better for our members.
Over the past year, we have raised alarm bells about cabin air quality, pushed back against the rise in unruly passengers, and demanded a safer work environment. We also grew our voice by welcoming 1,300 new flight attendants at Porter Airlines and Air North to our membership through organizing drives.
2025 saw us take enormous strides in the fight against unpaid work. Flight attendants at Air Canada went on strike for the first time in decades – forcing the airline to implement a ground duty premium, and forcing the federal government to launch a probe into unpaid work in the industry.
However, we know our work is not done yet. Our locals continue the fight to end unpaid work at bargaining tables across Canada, and our Airline Division is pushing ahead to lobby Parliamentarians to close the loopholes in the Canada Labour Code and ensure every hour worked is an hour paid.
- Add your name to support legislation to end unpaid work
We are sending safety, strength and solidarity to all 20,000 CUPE Airline Division members from coast to coast to coast. Happy International Flight Attendant Day!