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At least in Canada, it is sometimes only when in the air. They do not seem to be paid for boarding time. > It's industry standard for flight attendants' pay to

At least in Canada, it is sometimes only when in the air. They do not seem to be paid for boarding time. > It's industry standard for flight attendants' pay to be based on the time from wheels up to wheels down, although most airlines also provide some compensation for the time flight attendants spend at airports before and after flights. WestJet does not, and it's become a sticking point with flight attendants as minimum wages rise across the country. https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/westjet-minimum-wage-cupe-cfau-1.4575681 https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/westjet-minimum-wage-cupe-c...

db65edfc7996 5y ago
That is unbelievable. I am already furious when I am stuck sitting on the tarmac pre/post flight "do nothing". Cannot imagine how angry I would be if I was at work but not getting paid for it.
- sneak 5y ago
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_law_of_wages https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_law_of_wages This seeps into the unskilled-adjacent industries (like foodservice, on the ground or in the air) because approximately ~anyone can be trained up to do the job.
- dehrmann 5y ago
  A lot of flight attendants are unionized. I'm sure flight attendants bake it into their effective wage and not worry about it. I do wonder if this odd arrangement would work for non-union jobs since you're clearly working as soon as they want you at the airport.
  - chrisseaton 5y ago
    Being unionised just means you can collectively ask for what you want. It doesn't mean you necessarily get it. I'm sure they're not massively happy being paid $12 an hour either, but by your argument they are?
    - dehrmann 5y ago
      My argument is that they're happy enough with "wheels up" pay because that's how things work, and if airlines started paying for time at the airport, they'd make the same, just at a lower wage.
- andi999 5y ago
  I am surprised that this is legal. I mean that would be like paying developers only if they sit in front of the keyboard and not for the meetings.
Rd6n6 5y ago
I’ll fairly sure that this is illegal, but I guess anybody who pushed the issue would stop getting called in to work

db65edfc7996 5y ago

That is unbelievable. I am already furious when I am stuck sitting on the tarmac pre/post flight "do nothing". Cannot imagine how angry I would be if I was at work but not getting paid for it.

sneak 5y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_law_of_wages https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_law_of_wages This seeps into the unskilled-adjacent industries (like foodservice, on the ground or in the air) because approximately ~anyone can be trained up to do the job.
dehrmann 5y ago
A lot of flight attendants are unionized. I'm sure flight attendants bake it into their effective wage and not worry about it. I do wonder if this odd arrangement would work for non-union jobs since you're clearly working as soon as they want you at the airport.
- chrisseaton 5y ago
  Being unionised just means you can collectively ask for what you want. It doesn't mean you necessarily get it. I'm sure they're not massively happy being paid $12 an hour either, but by your argument they are?
  - dehrmann 5y ago
    My argument is that they're happy enough with "wheels up" pay because that's how things work, and if airlines started paying for time at the airport, they'd make the same, just at a lower wage.
andi999 5y ago
I am surprised that this is legal. I mean that would be like paying developers only if they sit in front of the keyboard and not for the meetings.

Rd6n6 5y ago

I’ll fairly sure that this is illegal, but I guess anybody who pushed the issue would stop getting called in to work