GATINEAU - The federal investigation into allegations of unpaid work in Canada's airline industry is expected to conclude by early December, according to Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu. The review was initiated in August following a significant labor dispute that led to the grounding of hundreds of Air Canada flights. Unpaid work for flight attendants was a central issue in that conflict.

On Monday, Employment and Social Development Canada announced a series of roundtable discussions with industry stakeholders scheduled for September 23, 24, and October 2, 3. The government has set an October 17 deadline for feedback from these discussions. Hajdu stated that the findings will be compiled into a report that will be made publicly available by early December, allowing for appropriate actions to be taken.

"All this information will be collected and disseminated in a report that will be publicly available by early December, and then we’ll be able to take appropriate action," Hajdu said in an interview. She emphasized the importance of determining whether there is a loophole that allows airline employers to avoid fairly compensating flight attendants for their work.

Hajdu indicated that the investigation could lead to new legislation aimed at addressing gaps in the labor code. However, she stressed the need for caution, stating, "Because these are collective agreements and my understanding is that these are negotiated, the government wants to be very careful about what we do next to make sure that we uphold the right for members and employers to bargain the terms of work and the conditions of work, as they see fit."

She acknowledged that Canadians are rightly concerned about unpaid work, saying, "We need to get to the bottom of it."

In August, Hajdu invoked section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to end the Air Canada strike and lockout, directing the Canada Industrial Relations Board to intervene. The Air Canada unit of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, representing about 10,000 flight attendants, rejected the company's last wage offer in a vote on September 6. The two parties are now awaiting mediation, with arbitration possible if the dispute remains unresolved.

The union claims that flight attendants are not compensated fairly and often work approximately 35 hours each month without pay. Air Canada has countered that it has proposed improvements to wages, pensions, and benefits, including a new contract component that acknowledges ground time.

Hajdu stated that the allegations of unpaid work must be addressed. "It’s really important to understand what the root of this allegation is, how it came to be, what the remedies are, and what all parties think is a best remedy," she said.

She noted that the issue is not unique to Canada, as other North American airlines also do not compensate flight attendants for time spent on the ground before and after flights. Recently, attendants with United Airlines and others have sought to renegotiate their contracts to include ground pay. Flight attendants represented by CUPE are expected to rally on Parliament Hill Tuesday to advocate for an end to unpaid work in the domestic airline industry.