Flight attendants at Air Canada have put the airline on blast over allegations that it is illegally expanding its cheaper leisure subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge, by increasing its fleet size beyond a strict 50-aircraft cap.
For context, Air Canada Rouge was created in 2013 when airline bosses were desperately looking for ways to compete with a new breed of discount airline like Air Transat and Sunwing after concluding that its mainline brand’s operating costs on leisure-oriented and sun routes were far too high.
Air Canada Rouge not only utilized a cheaper business model on board, but it also employed flight attendants at cheaper rates and with fewer benefits than their mainline counterparts.
Air Canada’s mainline flight attendants were concerned that the company would rapidly expand Air Canada Rouge, putting their livelihoods at risk, so they negotiated certain conditions about how Air Canada Rouge operates into their contract.
One of those conditions was that Air Canada Rouge would be limited to operating a total of 50 aircraft. This cap could not be breached without the express consent of the CUPE union which represents mainline Air Canada crew members.
Throughout Air Canada Rouge’s history, this cap has never been a problem, but last week, Air Canada announced that 52 aircraft would be transitioned to Air Canada Rouge flying.
Air Canada told flight attendants that this would only be a temporary arrangement, but the move has been enough to draw a sharp rebuke from the CUPE union.
“Our priorities are to protect Mainline scope and opportunities and ensure Rouge growth does not come at the expense of Mainline members,” the CUPE union told its members on Friday.
“We are demanding immediate compliance, full make-whole remedies for any adverse impacts, damages to the Union, and disclosure of all documents the Company is relying upon,” the memo continued.
The Air Canada flight attendant contract has several clauses that are meant to stop the airline from increasing Air Canada Rouge’s fleet beyond 50 aircraft:
- Article 2.04.05: Air Canada Rouge may operate a maximum of 50 aircraft…
- Article 2.04.07: Air Canada must get the Union’s consent to increase the total number of aircraft operated at Air Canada Rouge beyond fifty (50) during the term of the Collective Agreement. Consent will not be unreasonably withheld, provided that Air Canada Mainline Cabin Personnel are not negatively affected.
“The Company has not sought, and the Union has not granted, consent to exceed 50 Rouge aircraft post bargaining. No scope changes were agreed in bargaining to permit exceeding the cap,” the union added.
The CUPE union is already fighting another grievance about Air Canada Rouge over the airline’s plans to improve onboard service at its cheaper leisure subsidiary.
The grievance was filed after Air Canada Rouge took delivery of its first Boeing 737MAX airplane with Premium Economy seating at the front, seatback entertainment throughout, and fast, free Wi-Fi sponsored by Bell.
Flight attendants at Air Canada are protesting the Montreal-based carrier’s plans to improve service, including an enhanced experience with upgraded cabins, better in-flight entertainment, free Wi-Fi, and improved food and beverages, at its leisure subsidiary Air Canada Rouge.
Earlier this month, Air Canada Rouge took delivery of its first Boeing 737MAX airplane with Premium Economy seating at the front, seatback entertainment throughout, and fast, free Wi-Fi sponsored by Bell.
Along with the new plane, Air Canada Rouge is now also offering free beverages, including wine and beer, and premium snacks on all North American and Caribbean flights.
The union says that Air Canada Rouge was meant to have “clear and defined differences in service, configuration, and branding.”
“We are increasingly concerned that these distinctions are being blurred,” the union warned in March. “If Rouge and Air Canada Mainline are intended to be separate products, why are the differences becoming harder to distinguish?” the union asked.
