This is an update to the email we sent yesterday, with links to new resources below that are now available on the unifor.org/covid19 website.

The news from Ed Sims yesterday of 6,900 job cuts was of little surprise to any of us, but no less devastating.

These are difficult times for the airline industry, or course. More importantly, they are difficult times for you and your families. Unifor’s national leadership is actively involved in discussions about government support for the industry.

We are here to help you and your families through this difficult time.

As part of that, Unifor’s Communications, Research and Pensions and Benefits departments have worked together to prepare a series of fact sheets that explain, in simple terms, how to access Employment Insurance right now. This is the same information being shared with our membership at Air Canada and other workplaces.

Unifor has put together a factsheet to help you fill in an Employment Insurance application form that could be of use to some of you:

• How to Apply for E.I. Factsheet: What you need to know about filling in an E.I. applications. Get the How to Apply for E.I. factsheet

You will find this and other fact sheets that you might find helpful on Unifor’s COVID-19 web page (unifor.org/covid19) and at the following links:

• E.I. Regular Benefits Factsheet: What you need to know about regular
  E.I. benefits during the Covid-19 pandemic. Get the E.I. factsheet
• E.I. Full-time Workers Factsheet: What you need to know about E.I. benefits for Full-time Workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Get the E.I. Full-time Workers factsheet
  
  
• E.I. Part-time Workers Factsheet: What you need to know about E.I. benefits for Part-time Workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Get the E.I. Part-time Workers factsheet
  
  
• E.I. Sick Benefits Factsheet: New measures are in place during the Covid-19 crisis. Here is what you need to know. Get the sick benefits factsheet
  
  
• E.I. Work Sharing Factsheet: Learn more about the Work-Sharing program and temporary special measures to support employees affected by the downturn in business caused by COVID-19. Get the work sharing factsheet
  
  
• E.I. Vacation Pay Factsheet: What you need to know about vacation pay during the Covid-19 crisis. Get the vacation pay fact sheet

Be sure to check unifor.org/covid19 for updates to these materials and others as new information comes available or as government changes are made to EI and other programs. The following materials are now available on the unifor.org/covid19 site:

• E.I. Gig Workers Factsheet: What you need to know about E.I. benefits for Gig Workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Get the gig workers factsheet
  
  
• E.I. Seasonal Workers Factsheet: What you need to know about E.I. benefits for Season Workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Get the seasonal worker factsheet

Please know that Unifor continues to pressure the federal government to increase access to EI, to expedite the application process, and to ensure money gets in the pockets of workers as fast as possible to help mitigate the consequences of COVID-19 on employment.

The federal government today announced a Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) for workers affecxted by COVID-19. We will send updates when available.

If you are not collecting E.I. please pass this email along to someone who is – whether part of WestJet or not. We are all in this together, and you may know someone who could use one of the above factsheets, even if you can’t. Please share as widely as you can.

Remember, too, to continue checking unifor.org/covid19 for updates. If you have any questions, we are here to help.

Ontario
Billy O'Neill, Unifor
[email protected] | 416-605-1443

Quebec
Ada Zampini, Unifor
[email protected] | 514-701-6227

Prairies
Bruce Fafard, Unifor
[email protected] | 587-341-0945

British Columbia
Simon Lau, Unifor
[email protected] | 778-928-9630

Atlantic
Patrick Murray, Unifor
[email protected] | 506-850-7996