The Canadian Confederation of Public Employees (CUPE) accuses Air Canada of collecting sums linked to the Federal Wage Support Program “in order to improve its balance sheet by leaving thousands of employees in limbo”.

Since the spring, Canada’s Emergency Wage Support System (SSUC) has been enabling companies with significantly lower income to obtain financial aid from Ottawa to pay 75% of workers’ wages. Up to $ 847 per week.

Butter and butter money

The Federation of Public Employees of Canada, which represents nearly 9,000 flight attendants of Air Canada, regrets the layoffs, which took place on January 13 and affected 800 of its members. Instead, the union is asking the company to take advantage of a support program for inactive employees as well as for those who are still working.

“We set up SSUC so workers can find jobs when the economy recovers. Why is Air Canada refusing money to help workers who built the company keep their jobs?” CUPE Air Canada component chief Wesley Lesowsky asks.

Canada’s Civil Services Department accuses Sydnicat of wanting “butter and money” by capitalizing on subsidies, but it continues to implement “mass layoffs.”

More than 21,000 layoffs

With the latest layoffs of 1,900 employees, Air Canada estimates that its flight capacity in the first quarter will be 20% of the same period in 2019.

The company had already made 20,000 layoffs in the spring.

The union states that “workers who keep their jobs through SSUC also retain their benefits, which is especially important during a pandemic.”

Air Canada did not respond to a request for comment. magazine Until the time this news is published.