We have officially reached a majority level of support for unionization. This did not happen by accident. It happened because of the hard work, commitment, and conversations each of you took on to get us here. Thank you for everything you have done to help reach this point.

I am encouraging everyone to take one final swing and circle back with people who previously said they intended to sign. It is always safer for us to file with a stronger majority than the minimum required. Card counts can shift if someone is no longer employed or if the total number of employees is higher than originally estimated. A larger margin protects the work we have all put in.

The victory lap is always sweeter knowing the hardest part is behind us. For anyone who has been sitting on the sidelines, watching and waiting, this is your moment. This is your chance to be part of something historic and to step forward with the winning team.

A clear majority allows us to seek automatic certification rather than having the labour board order a vote. That matters. It shortens the process, reduces risk, and locks in the collective decision workers have already made.

Let us finish strong.

Some of you have asked about the next steps:

Six Steps to Joining the Union

Step 1. Sign a membership card

Workers sign a Unifor membership card to indicate their support for union representation. This process is confidential and the employer is never told who has signed.

Federal labour law requires a five dollar fee at the time of signing for the card to be valid and counted by the Labour Board.

Step 2. Application to the Labour Board

Once enough valid membership cards are signed, Unifor files an application for certification with the Canada Industrial Relations Board.

At this point, membership evidence is submitted and the legal certification process officially begins. The Federal Freeze provision starts.

Step 3. Board review and certification process

The Labour Board reviews the membership evidence to determine how certification proceeds.
If a majority of workers have signed valid membership cards, the Board may certify the union without requiring a vote.

If support is below a majority but above the minimum threshold required by law, the Board will order a secret ballot vote.

In either case, certification is based on worker support, not employer approval.

Step 4. Electing workplace representatives

Once certified, workers are assigned to a Unifor local that will support the workplace. Workers then elect their own representatives from among their coworkers.

The first key election is the bargaining committee, which leads negotiations for the first collective agreement. Unifor staff and resources support this process, but decisions remain in workers’ hands.

Step 5. Bargaining the first collective agreement

The elected bargaining committee negotiates directly with management. Bargaining typically covers wages, job security, scheduling, workload, monitoring and performance measurement, technological change, benefits, vacations, leaves, and workplace protections.

Once a tentative agreement is reached, all workers in the bargaining unit vote on whether to accept it. No union dues are paid until after a first agreement is ratified.

Step 6. Your union in action

As a Unifor member, you are the union. Workers hold elected roles, enforce the collective agreement, and raise issues through a grievance process when rules are violated.

The collective agreement becomes a legally binding document that sets clear expectations and protections and cannot be changed unilaterally by the employer.

Some of you receiving this email have not signed a Unifor membership card. We encourage you to take a moment to reflect on what may be holding you back. Your action now directly determines whether you are included in the application when we file for certification and move forward together.

Sign your card here: join.unifor.org/westjet

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!