Right now, many of you are relying on the internal Employer Association to address workplace issues. But it’s important to recognize the limits of what an employer-controlled association can actually do. This group, while it may provide a surface-level sense of representation, simply does not have the legal authority or independence to truly hold your employer accountable. They can’t force your employer to sit down and negotiate on the issues that matter most to you—like fair pay, predictable scheduling, manageable workloads, or safe working conditions.

The reality is, without an independent union like Unifor, management remains in full control, and your voices risk being ignored or brushed aside. With an internal association, the employer still holds all the cards, and any agreements are based on what they’re willing to offer—not on what you as workers truly deserve or have a legal right to negotiate.

This is where a Unifor-negotiated collective agreement becomes critical. Unifor brings the legal power to the table that an internal association just can’t provide. With a strong, legally binding collective agreement, the company is required to negotiate with you in good faith. This means that your concerns can no longer be dismissed or minimized. Whether it’s about securing better wages, ensuring fair shift scheduling, addressing workload concerns, or getting the necessary breaks during your shifts, a collective agreement enforces these protections through legal means.

Union representation doesn’t just give you a voice—it gives you power. The power to hold management accountable every day, the power to push back when they try to violate your rights, and the power to negotiate from a position of strength, not vulnerability. Workplace representatives would be there to enforce the language in your agreement, ensuring that your rights are upheld daily, without exception.

You deserve better than an association that serves your employer's interests. You deserve the protection, security, and collective strength that only a union like Unifor can provide. Now is the time to stand together and take that step towards real, effective representation that puts you first.

Please share this link to sign a confidential Unifor membership card online and pay the $5 fee as required by law join.unifor.org/WestJet  

In solidarity,

Billy O’Neill
Unifor National Representative Organizing
416.605.1443
[email protected]

Lucy Alessio
Unifor National Coordinator Organizing
416.998.3189
[email protected]