Everyone has probably wondered, while they’re grooming an aircraft between flights, and not even getting paid to do it, whether this is the norm at other airlines in Canada.
Well, it isn’t. Porter is pretty “unique” in this sense.
At almost every other airline in Canada, grooming is the responsibility of ground crew. It’s not part of the job description for flight attendants – and certainly not one that flight attendants would be doing for free!
Porter recently announced they would be hiring outside contractors to perform grooming on certain aircraft, and on certain routes only. That’s great news for some Porter cabin crew, but it leaves just as many behind.
It’s just a baby step – one that Porter is only taking because they’re feeling the pressure of your collective effort to form a union.
And remember: there’s nothing to guarantee Porter won’t change this practice in the future because, as we know, without a legally-binding contract, anything Porter gives they can also take away.
With a union and a strong collective agreement, Porter flight attendants can level up with other flight attendants across Canada, and focus on our primary responsibility of keeping passengers safe and comfortable on their journey – not grooming.
With a union, we’ll have the power to give ourselves a greater say in what duties we perform at work, and the power to ensure we’re paid for our time at work.
If you’re ready for a greater say in your working conditions, sign your union card today.
If you’ve already signed your card, that’s awesome. Remember: signing your union card is a two-step process. After signing your membership card, the Canada Industrial Relations Board also requires a $5 payment.