OTTAWA, Sept. 06, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CUPE’s National President Mark Hancock has written to Transport Minister Marc Garneau asking him to respond positively to a report from an House of Commons’ committee calling for a revision of the 1:50 flight attendant to passenger ratio.
The report on Aviation Safety in Canada from the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, issued unanimously last June, was tabled after a series of hearings held last Spring.
In its report, the Committee recommends “that the federal government revise the 50:1 passenger to flight attendant ratio in consultation with stakeholders and experts on flight attendant ratios, while keeping the security of Canadians as a top priority.”
“We were pleased to see the committee members echo our recommendations,” stated Hancock.
During the hearings, CUPE explained to parliamentarians that the change in the ratio of flight attendants to passengers from 1:40 to 1:50 is exposing passengers to much greater risk.
CUPE, which represents more than 10,000 flight attendants employed by nine airlines, highlighted that when emergency exits are left unattended because there aren’t enough flight attendants, passengers must assume this vital responsibility. This constitutes an unnecessary and unacceptable risk for passengers and crew members.
“We are hopeful that the Minister of Transport will respond positively to the report and indicate that the government will support its adoption in the House of Commons,” said Hancock. “This would allow for the ratio to be quickly revised in order to reinstate the safer 1 in 40 ratio as soon as possible.”
Read the full letter:
Dear Minister Garneau,
Last June, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities issued its report on Aviation Safety in Canada. The Committee’s unanimous report was tabled after a series of hearings held from April to June 2017.
CUPE represents more than 10,000 flight attendants employed by nine airlines and as such, was pleased to participate in the work of the committee. On April 6, CUPE explained to parliamentarians that the change in the ratio of flight attendants to passengers from 1:40 to 1:50 is exposing passengers to much greater risk.
During these hearings, CUPE highlighted that when emergency exits are left unattended because there aren’t enough flight attendants, passengers must assume this vital responsibility. As you know, passengers are not mentally prepared and they lack the training to deal with an emergency exit. This constitutes an unnecessary and unacceptable risk for passengers and crew members.
CUPE is pleased to note that committee members echoed our recommendations.
In its report, the Committee recommends “That the federal government revise the 50:1 passenger to flight attendant ratio in consultation with stakeholders and experts on flight attendant ratios, while keeping the security of Canadians as a top priority.”
As you know, during the 2015 federal election campaign, CUPE’s Airline Division asked the Liberal Party of Canada if it supported returning to the safety-proven 1:40 ratio.
At the time, the Liberal Party of Canada made the following commitment:
“The Conservative government has jeopardized Canadians by cutting safety budgets at Transport Canada. It is the government’s role to make informed decisions based on evidence and data; the Liberal Party of Canada will not make a unilateral decision without appropriate consultation with stakeholders and experts, all the while keeping the safety of all Canadians as a top priority.”
As you are no doubt aware by now, the modified regulations allowing the 1:50 ratio are frequently violated.
Considering the Committee’s recommendation and in light of the commitment made by your party during the last election, we hope that, as Minister of Transport, you will respond positively to the report and indicate that the government will support its adoption in the House of Commons, in order for the ratio to be quickly revised, so that the 1 in 40 ratio can be reinstated as soon as possible. It’s a ratio that’s been demonstrated to be safe. The faster you act, the faster you will be able to restore a proper level of air safety for passengers and crew.
The government can count on the full support of CUPE’s Airline Division as you proceed in this direction.
Sincerely,
Mark Hancock
National President, CUPE