With the news that Lynx Air President and CEO Merren McArthur will be stepping down this month, Cabin Crew are left wondering what a change in executive leadership might mean for them. This serves as an important opportunity to remind Lynx Cabin Crew that unionized workers benefit significantly from the protections afforded to them by their union.
One of the most notable advantages to being unionized is that it prevents arbitrary changes to working conditions, ensuring that employees are not subjected to sudden changes to important conditions of employment, such as hours, wages, or benefits, without our consent.
Unionized workers also benefit from the ability to collectively bargain for their standards of work. Should Lynx Cabin Crew join the 18,500 airline division members at CUPE, they too will negotiate a Collective Agreement, which will serve as a protective shield for working conditions. This agreement, negotiated collectively between committees established by both the union and the employer, provides job security and stability. It establishes clear guidelines for pay scales, working hours, vacation days, and grievance procedures, fostering transparency and fairness in the workplace. Additionally, the collective agreement often includes provisions for health and safety measures, ensuring that employees can work in an environment that prioritizes their well-being. Ultimately, collective agreements protect working conditions from unilateral changes made by the employer, and empower workers by providing control over their employment terms and fostering a fair, harmonious and stable work environment.
Signing a card with CUPE ensures that Lynx Cabin Crew’s working conditions are in the hands of Lynx Cabin Crew, not whoever happens to be CEO this week.