Onex-WestJet wants to celebrate a low-cost appreciation in honour of you as they continue with outsourcing and job cuts. They are inviting you to join them and your AEA representatives to station-level appreciation events from October 1 to 3, 2020. In the invite from Robert Antoniuk - Vice President Airports, "the week has been kept low-cost, as I'm sure everyone can appreciate given our current climate; it is simply a gesture to illustrate how much we appreciate our teams". 

We have a better idea, Robert; Onex-WestJet can show some appreciation to these workers by letting them keep their jobs.

Over the past few weeks, we have focused on pointing out the AEA for their failures in representing your rights as workers at Onex-WestJet. We have encouraged you to talk to your friends about an alternative future; one that does not rubberstamp the actions of your employer. We hoped to inspire you to be active in your future, and we are happy to see a growing movement of WestJetters who are standing up against corporate greed.

A movement of workers seeking fairness while recognizing their power to demand better is building. You have contributed years to make WestJet into the company it became and deserve so much more than what Onex-WestJet and the AEA are offering.

Setting aside the failures of the AEA, we need to bring our focus back at the actions of Onex-WestJet, as they are the root of these cuts.

While we understand that COVID has brought challenges to the air transportation sector, there is confidence that it will rebound to normal levels in the future. Your unionized coworkers from inflight are on leave with wage subsidy with an expectation of returning to work.

The actions of Onex-WestJet towards airports workers confirms our suspicions that they do not see value in your work and will continue to outsource your work to the lowest bidder.

The outsourcing will not stop at airports; it will likely continue with remaining call centre employees. Call centre employees in Moncton were told they were closing because of COVID. However, in a document sent to Unifor, it alleges that a year ago Onex-WestJet made a site visit to Teleperformance in the Philippines.

The attached letter says, "We met during a site visit to the TP Philippines almost last year while your team was evaluating the market for Contract Center operations." The letter addressed to "Colleen and Brandt." We understand Colleen to be Colleen Tynan - Director of Contact Centre. We guess that Brandt is Brandt Summers - Manager, Category Strategic Procurement.

It's time to take a closer look at Onex, and its business practises of buying companies and chopping them up.

Who is Onex?

Onex is one of the largest private equity (PE) firms in Canada. Founded by Gerry Schwartz in 1984, it had assets of $51 billion (US) and revenues of $32 billion (US) in 2018.

Onex's three-pronged PE strategy involves 1. "Cost reduction and operational restructurings," 2. Assembling businesses through "add- on acquisitions," and 3. "Carve-outs of subsidiaries and mission-critical supply divisions from multinational corporations."

About Unifor

Unifor is a Canadian union with a modern, inclusive approach to serving members and improving our workplaces and communities. // Unifor est un syndicat canadien qui a une approche moderne et inclusive pour servir ses membres et améliorer nos lieux de trav

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