WestJet workers looking to join Unifor can now fill in an online Unifor membership card and pay the federally required fee with PayPal by going to unifor.org/westjetpaypal.

Over the past few days, WestJet Frontline Airport Workers and call centre staff across Canada have been talking to Unifor Organizers about how to gain a voice in their workplace, and signing membership cards.

That is hardly surprising. The day Onex officially takes over is fast approaching, and workers are growing increasingly concerned about what life might be like under the new owners.

In its purchase agreement for WestJet, Onex makes it clear that it will protect the current jobs and working conditions of non-union workers for only one year – unless it decides all on its own not to, which is no protection at all.

None of that applies to unionized workers with a collective agreement, however, since Onex recognizes in the purchase agreement that it has a legal responsibility to work with unionized workers.

In Onex’s own words, then, WestJet Frontline Airport Workers and call centre staff need to join a union and negotiate a collective agreement if they do not want to be left exposed to Onex’s arbitrary decisions about their job security, their compensation and their working conditions.

The good news is that it has never been easier to join Unifor.

That’s because it is now possible to fill out a Unifor membership card online, and to pay the $5 fee required under federal labour law by PayPal or credit card.

Simply go to Unifor’s Online card site, fill in the online form, print the card, sign it and hand it into a Unifor Organizer or mail it to Unifor at the address provided on the site, unifor.org/westjetpaypal. It is 100 per cent private, secure and easy to do.

We would love it if you could simply send us the card directly by email, but the Canada Labour Code does not allow that. It adds a level of inconvenience, perhaps, but it’s the law, and it’s there to protect you and your co-workers against fraud.

If you have not already signed a card, please go to the online card site now, and be sure to share the unifor.org/westjetpaypal site with your co-workers.

If you would like to hear more about joining Unifor, including how to join online, please contact one of your Organizers.

All calls are confidential.

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