WestJet workers are once again facing a devastating wave of outsourcing. This time, it’s Contact Centre employees, Campus Professional employees, and other workgroups being targeted. We’ve seen this pattern before: just like the 3,000+ airport jobs that were outsourced in 2020 while the Airports Employee Association (AEA) stood by in silence, the CCEA (Call Centre Employee Association) and TAPS (Technical Administrative and Professional Support) are now following the same playbook.

The Parallel: Then and Now

 

Then – AEA’s Failure to Protect Airport Workers

  • In 2020, WestJet outsourced thousands of airport jobs to private contractors.
  • The AEA, a company-controlled association, told workers their jobs were safe.
  • Despite clear warnings from Unifor and evidence in the Onex purchase agreement, the AEA failed to act.
  • Within months, jobs were eliminated, and workers were left without protection.

Now – CCEA and TAPS' Silence While Outsourcing Grows

  • More than 817 Contact Centre and Campus Professional jobs have already been outsourced.
  • WestJet Vacations Contact Centre is being eliminated altogether.
  • 524 Sales and Service Agent (SSA) jobs and 190 Chat Support Agent jobs are already outsourced.
  • WestJet Vacations support jobs have been outsourced.
  • CCEA and TAPS remain silent, just as the AEA did before the mass layoffs in airports.
  • They said outsourcing would only augment jobs, but it's clear they were not being truthful; they admit outsourcing benefits the company. (Source: CBC)

Onex Purchase Agreement Shows Jobs Were Never Safe

WestJet workers were misled about job security. The Onex purchase agreement made it clear that jobs were only protected for one year unless workers were unionized. The agreement states:

This means only unionized workers had real job protection. Without a union, jobs were vulnerable to outsourcing after the one-year period ended. (Source: Unifor)

Onex's History of Outsourcing and Selling Companies for Profit

Onex’s actions at WestJet are not new. This investment firm has done the same at other companies before, putting profits ahead of workers’ livelihoods:

  • Spirit Airlines (2006): Onex acquired Spirit, restructured operations, outsourced jobs, and turned it into an ultra-low-cost carrier before selling its stake in 2013 for a significant profit.
  • Hawker Beechcraft (2007): Onex purchased this aircraft manufacturer, outsourced parts of production, and laid off workers. The company eventually filed for bankruptcy, and Onex sold it off in 2013.
  • Spirit AeroSystems (2005): After purchasing this aircraft parts manufacturer, Onex shifted production and outsourced jobs to cut costs. A year later, the company was taken public, generating substantial profits for Onex.
  • Sitel Worldwide (2008): Onex acquired this global customer service outsourcing firm providing call centre services, expanded its offshore operations, and eventually sold its stake in 2015 after increasing profitability through outsourcing.

 

 

The Connection: Onex’s Playbook at WestJet Mirrors Its Sitel Strategy

Onex’s handling of WestJet’s outsourcing strategy is nearly identical to what they did with Sitel:

  • Call centre jobs were moved to lower-cost regions to boost profitability at Sitel, just as WestJet’s Contact Centre jobs are now being shifted to contractors.
  • Workers were left with fewer options, reduced wages, and job insecurity, much like what is happening at WestJet Vacations and across other departments.
  • Onex maximized returns by stripping costs and selling assets, a likely trajectory for WestJet’s future if outsourcing continues unchecked.
  • Why would Onex pay more for employees in Canada when they know from their previous business dealings, particularly with Sitel, the cost savings associated with outsourcing? Their model prioritizes profit over worker stability, and WestJet employees are now experiencing the consequences firsthand.

These examples make it clear: Onex’s business model is built on outsourcing jobs to lower-cost regions to increase profits. This is already happening at WestJet, and without protection, it will continue across more departments and workgroups.

The Pattern is Clear: Company-Controlled Associations Cannot Protect You

Workers at WestJet, represented by Unifor, CUPE, and ALPA, have strong collective agreements that stop outsourcing. The difference? They have real unions with legally binding protections. Internal employee associations like the AEA, CCEA, and TAPS exist to limit workers' power, not to defend their rights.

Why Unifor is the Only Protection Against Outsourcing

Unlike these ineffective associations, Unifor fights for workers through enforceable collective agreements that:

  • Prohibit outsourcing and protect existing jobs.
  • Secure fair wages and prevent unilateral pay cuts.
  • Guarantee severance and job security provisions during restructuring.
  • Give workers a real voice at the bargaining table instead of empty promises from employer-controlled groups.

The Time to Act is Now

If you don’t act now, WestJet will continue down the same path, cutting more jobs while the CCEA and TAPS remain silent. The only way to fight back is to join Unifor and secure the legal protections that can stop outsourcing in its tracks.

This is not just about today—it’s about securing a future where your job, your pay, and your rights are protected. Join Unifor now and take control of your future before it’s too late.

Sign your Unifor membership card today to secure your job and protect your future. If you have any questions or need more information, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Unifor organizing team.

Don’t wait for your job to be the next casualty of outsourcing. Act now—sign your membership card today!

In solidarity,

Billy O’Neill
Unifor National Representative, Organizing
📞 416.605.1443
✉️ billy.oneill@unifor.org

Lucy Alessio
Unifor National Coordinator, Organizing
📞 416.998.3189
✉️ lucy.alessio@unifor.org

Don’t wait—click here to sign your card today!