'Despite working gruelling 14-hour days or longer, many flight attendants are sometimes only paid for half their time on the job,' writes Port Moody–Coquitlam MP Bonita Zarrillo in an op-ed.
Travel season is fast approaching, and with that, millions of Canadians will flock to airports across the country and make their way to see loved ones and spend time together for the holidays.But did you know that those flight attendants you are relying on are working without being paid?
This means they aren’t compensated for the essential duties of boarding, assisting passengers of all ages, conducting safety checks and managing deplaning. The situation is so dire, some flight attendant unions have been forced to open food banks in their offices for their members. Even as the workforce becomes more diverse, longstanding gender biases have normalized the unfair and exploitive compensation model. Just like other professions dominated by women, like nursing and childcare, their work is undervalued and underpaid.
Whether you’re a nurse, an electrician or a barista, when you show up at work, in uniform, and begin your duties, you’re getting paid. Why should flight attendants — the people who are responsible for keeping the public safe at 30,000 feet in the air — be any different?
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