For forty years, flight attendants in Canada have had CUPE backing them up, and helping this industry succeed. We want Porter to be successful because we love our jobs – but we know there are so many ways our jobs need to improve. We also know that management will never give us those improvements of their own volition. We need to work together to make them a reality.
We disagree with a recent memo from management that characterized our effort to organize a union with our coworkers as “spreading negativity”. As Porter cabin crew, we think working together for a better deal at work is a positive thing. We think working together to get the respect and better wages we deserve at work is a positive thing. We’re excited about the opportunities ahead to make positive changes at our jobs. And we’re going to keep up our efforts until that goal becomes a reality.
It’s not surprising that the company isn’t thrilled that every week, more and more Porter cabin crew are signing their union card. When we have our union, the company won’t be pulling all the strings anymore. They won’t be able to make arbitrary changes to our working conditions. They will have to negotiate a fair wage, better per diems, and better benefits. They will have to play by the rules that both parties agree to. They’ve never had to do that before and it makes them uncomfortable.
The company says that cabin crew forming their own union doesn’t guarantee anything. But flight attendants at other airlines who unionized with CUPE enjoy industry-leading wages, per diems that actually keep pace with the skyrocketing cost of living, better benefits, predictable schedules, and working conditions that don’t change overnight on a whim. We will let you draw your own conclusions about what you can expect once Porter cabin crew have a union 😊