An Update from the LEC on the Halifax and Thunder Bay Base Closures

The past few days have been very difficult for our colleagues and friends in Halifax and Thunder Bay. Your Union is pledging its support to those members while communicating concerns and questions with the Company.

In the interest of transparency, your union believes it is necessary to make you aware of vital information which the company has not shared with you to date: Porter Airlines is treating this as a Group Termination and has filed this notice pursuant to the Canada Labour Code. The Union felt it was important to ensure members are aware and have access to the same information in a timely manner.

The Code requires that the Company provide 16 weeks notice of the change which is the May 7th date provided in the notice.

We believe this group termination notice requires an abundance of clarity that is not present in the communications sent out to our Halifax and Thunder Bay members. While options for relocation/commuting, voluntary lay-off, or early retirement have been presented, the options given (transfer, retirement, voluntary layoff) are part of their initial mitigation techniques.

The Union will be advocating for our members by participating in the Joint Committee, required under the Canada Labour Code, to ensure our members’ rights and concerns are addressed as we navigate this base closure. We are bringing forward suggestions and requests to the employer to ensure our impacted members have the best possible conditions in this very difficult situation and will work closely with the Base Vice Presidents of those two Bases, Shannon Grimard of YQT and Rebecca Mercer of YHZ.

We have received questions surrounding FOAG Section 2.3 and the policy surroundingthe 60 days notice to the FOAG Committee. We want to be clear, the FOAG Committee has been disbanded since certification of our Union. Additionally, with this filing for a group termination, the Canada Labour Code now sets out the protocol that the Company is required to follow, regardless of company policies.

We will continue to keep members informed as further details become available.

In solidarity,

The L4061 Local Executive Committee

Sign your Member in Good Standing Form!

In order to get Local 4061 up and running, CUPE National provided our union with a Member in Good Standing signing exemption, that expires on Jan 31st 2026.

In order to maintain your status as a MIGS, and be able to vote on our proposed bylaws, (including our dues rate, and committees such as Health and Safety, Hotels, Uniforms etc.) you will need to sign a MIGS form.

More information about the benefits of becoming a Member in Good Standing can be found below.

To sign a MIGS Form, please use this link: Become a Member In Good Standing

CUPE welcomes Porter cabin crew

This week, the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) announced that CUPE has been successful in its campaign to organize approximately 1,200 cabin crew at Porter Airlines.

“When workers organize, they win,” said CUPE National President Mark Hancock. “We are honoured to welcome Porter cabin crew to CUPE.  We look forward to making sure they get a fair deal when negotiating their very first collective agreement.”

“These workers will now have the resources of Canada’s largest union at their disposal,” said CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer Candace Rennick. “This is a historic step in the fight for fair wages for flight attendants across the country.”

CUPE now represents approximately 20,000 cabin crew at airlines large and small across the country. For the past 40 years, CUPE has worked with flight attendants to raise the bar across the industry, with better wages and health and safety protections, improved cabin air quality standards, better premiums for extended duty days, and an end to restrictive and often discriminatory uniform and grooming policies.

“Today is a really big day for Porter cabin crew, and I’m so proud of my colleagues who have spent countless hours organizing for this win,” said Sarah Seal, a cabin crew member at Porter Airlines. “This is an exciting new chapter for all of us and we look forward to improving our working conditions and wages as Porter continues to grow and succeed.”

Nothing to lose; everything to gain: it’s now or never!

A union is just around the corner for Porter cabin crew.

If you’re still on the fence, just remember you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by signing your union card.

With our union, here are just a few things we’ll be able to fight for:

If you haven’t already, join hundreds of your colleagues and sign your union card today.

It’s now or never.

Pilots have filed for their union. Cabin crew should be next!

If you haven’t already heard: pilots at Porter have filed to certify their union! That means well over half of the pilots have signed their union cards with ALPA.

Pilots are now officially en route to better working conditions, fair compensation, and more respect and a stronger voice at work.

As cabin crew, we can’t get left behind. And if you sign your card today, we’ll be one step closer.

Already signed your card? Amazing. Why not encourage 1-2 friends to sign their cards today? It only takes a few minutes.

Did you sign your card before February 2025? If so, you need to renew your card. But don’t worry, it’s super simple! All you have to do is e-transfer a $5 application fee to porter@cupe.ca to renew your application.

Every card can make a difference, and in this pivotal moment, every voice counts!

Together, along with our colleagues at the front of the plane, we’ll have strong union representation and make our jobs even better!

Sign your card in three easy steps today! Head to porter.cupe.ca/sign-a-card to fill out the form, confirm your digital signature, and pay your $5 federally-mandated application fee. It takes less than five minutes.

 

Our union is just around the corner

We’re this close to winning our union at Porter.

But in order to stick this landing, we need every cabin crew member on board to get there. If you haven’t already, sign your card now!

Hundreds of your fellow crew have already signed their union cards. The momentum and enthusiasm we have seen over the past month has been incredible.

We’re now just steps away from being able to apply for certification and start building the strong, united voice we deserve.

As cabin crew, we know what it means to work together under pressure. This is one of those moments.

By signing your card today, you’re helping secure our shared power to negotiate for better wages, fair scheduling, stronger job protections, and the respect we deserve.

Our union is just around the corner — but we need you with us.

You might not think one card can make a difference, but in this pivotal moment, every voice counts!

Don’t wait. Your signature could be the one that puts us over the top.

Sign your card now – before it’s too late!

Join us! Porter cabin crew meet-and-greet June 3rd

We had an amazing time meeting so many of you at our last meet-and-greet on April 17, so we decided to hold another one. As our union drive builds momentum toward the finish line, we’re excited to welcome all Porter cabin crew to a meet-and-greet near YTZ to talk all things Porter and CUPE.

Join us on June 3rd from 1300-1600 at the Wheat Sheaf Tavern (667 King Street, Toronto) for snacks and conversation. It will be a great opportunity to come sign your union card, chat with your coworkers, and get your questions answered. If you can’t make it and have questions, we are always happy to hear from you. Get in touch at porter@cupe.ca.

See you there!

CUPE Town Halls – May 5 & 7

It’s that time again! We are excited to invite you to attend an upcoming info session with CUPE to learn more about what it means to be a part of Canada’s largest flight attendant union.

Join us on May 5 at 6PM ET or on May 7 at 11AM ET for an opportunity to learn about CUPE, the process of forming a union for Porter cabin crew, and to get your questions answered.

You can also learn about how you can join the Unify Porter campaign to help make positive change in your workplace. We will also share updates about renewing your union cards!

CUPE Town Hall – Porter
Time: May 5, 2025 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84691032415?pwd=Z1R7Is5faNgKGV9jxEOkUFddINqqbf.1

Meeting ID: 846 9103 2415
Passcode: 711342

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One tap mobile
+16699009128,,84691032415#,,,,*711342# US (San Jose)
+16892781000,,84691032415#,,,,*711342# US

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Dial by your location

  • +1 647 558 0588 Canada
  • +1 778 907 2071 Canada
  • +1 780 666 0144 Canada
  • +1 204 272 7920 Canada
  • +1 438 809 7799 Canada
  • +1 587 328 1099 Canada
  • +1 647 374 4685 Canada

Meeting ID: 846 9103 2415
Passcode: 711342

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdPLZBpdXO

Topic: CUPE Town Hall – Porter
Time: May 7, 2025 11:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81461656111?pwd=cMfY4QbzgTPNghOMqbElmlG8Wwcfa0.1

Meeting ID: 814 6165 6111
Passcode: 357406

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One tap mobile
+16475580588,,81461656111#,,,,*357406# Canada
+17789072071,,81461656111#,,,,*357406# Canada

—

Dial by your location

  • +1 647 558 0588 Canada
  • +1 778 907 2071 Canada
  • +1 780 666 0144 Canada
  • +1 204 272 7920 Canada
  • +1 438 809 7799 Canada
  • +1 587 328 1099 Canada
  • +1 647 374 4685 Canada

Meeting ID: 814 6165 6111
Passcode: 357406

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kc3erYAwN4

One crew concept?

By now, many of you have noticed a big change in your pairings – cabin crew and pilots are no longer working the same pairings from start to finish.

For many of us, this could mean longer duty days, more legs flown in a day, and shorter rest on layovers and at home. And it might only get tougher as the company continues rolling out these changes into May.

While pilots are getting pairings that allow them to commute from non-base cities, cabin crew do not have the same options. Pilots have much stronger protection under Transport Canada’s aviation regulations than cabin crew. And let’s remember, even with better pairings and transport, the pilots are also in the process of unionizing.

This is just one more reason why Porter cabin crew need to form a union of our own, with the protection of a collective agreement. We need a union, and a real contract that goes above and beyond the bare minimum under the law.

With a union and a real contract, Porter cabin crew will have strong language protecting the length of our duty days, the number of legs flown in a day, and the length of rest while we’re on layover and at home. This protects health and safety for the crew and passengers alike.

Why is Porter doing this? It probably makes business sense for them. But it shouldn’t be done at the expense of our health and safety.

As cabin crew, we know that we deserve safe and healthy scheduling – and with a union and a real contract, we can work to protect it while helping our company succeed.

If you haven’t already, sign your union card today to get the strong union protection we deserve.

Join us! Porter cabin crew meet-and-greet April 17

As our union drive builds momentum toward the finish line, we’re excited to welcome all Porter cabin crew to a meet-and-greet near YTZ to talk all things Porter and CUPE.

Join us on April 17 from 1300-1600 at the Wheat Sheaf Tavern (667 King Street, Toronto) for snacks and conversation. It will be a great opportunity to come sign your union card, chat with your coworkers, and get your questions answered. If you can’t make it and have questions, we are always happy to hear from you. Get in touch at porter@cupe.ca.

See you there!