December 3, 2025 at 12:00 PM
As a union built on solidarity and striving to protect every member of the workforce, it is important that we support our CUPE sisters and brothers in the In-Flight group by ensuring their designated crew seats are respected and left available whenever possible.
Every flight includes designated crew seats that remain blocked (i.e. unavailable) until potentially needed at the gate, and only when the flight is fully booked. Occasionally, last minute no-shows at the gate create open seats in the cabin, resulting in those crew seats being used for passengers, and sometimes our own members use them to seat travelling groups together.
Our colleagues from CUPE – Flight Attendants at Air Canada Mainline and Air Canada Rouge – rely on these designated seats as a critical place to rest and a suitable place to eat when they are not actively providing inflight service to passengers.
Many of us remember from the RES III days that there was absolutely no way to override those crew seats unless every other seat in Economy was occupied. This is not the case within CM, which now allows almost anyone to override and assign passengers into these seats.
Just as we stood with CUPE Flight Attendants during their recent contract negotiations and their job action in August, we know they will stand with us when we enter bargaining early next year.
It is the small gestures, like moving passengers out of crew seats when last minute no shows occur whenever possible, that demonstrate real solidarity. CUPE members are entitled to these seats under their Collective Agreement, and respecting that entitlement strengthens all of us.
"We will be forever grateful to all Unifor 2002 members who turned up at our rallies and strike lines last summer in support of a fair contract and an end to unpaid work," said Wesley Lesosky, President, CUPE Air Canada Component.
"Solidarity is not measured by grand gestures alone. It is shown in the everyday respect we extend to one another. Protecting crew seats is a simple action that ensures our members can work safely and effectively. We appreciate the continued support of our Unifor 2002 colleagues, and we will always be there to support you in return."
We are fortunate to have strong solidarity among the various unions at Air Canada. Together, we can accomplish far more than any one group can achieve alone.
Please support our brothers and sisters at CUPE by ensuring crew seats remain available unless every other seat is occupied. This small act goes a long way and strengthens our union relationship as we enter our own set of contract negotiations in 2026.
In Solidarity,
Astrid Metzler
Chairperson and Western Region Bargaining Representative
Air Canada / Unifor Local 2002
Lucie Lapierre
Chairperson and Eastern Region Bargaining Representative
Jazz CSA / Unifor Local 2002
Tammy Moore
President
Unifor Local 2002
25-12-03 AC-Jazz-CUPE-Crew-Seats-Support-Message EN.txt