WestJet and Onex are beginning to hold townhall-style meetings about the upcoming purchase of the airline by Onex. We would expect no less, and certainly workers deserve to hear directly from the two companies about what they have planned.

Disturbingly, however, rumours have also begun circulating about what it will be like working for the new company under Onex’s control, and whispered promises about what your compensation might look like.

Maybe there will be a pension, some have heard. Perhaps a chance to maybe buy Onex shares in the future - at a yet-be-determined date. There might even be more investments made by the new owners.

Maybe. Perhaps. At some point.

It all might sound good, but there’s nothing to really hang your hat on or hold anyone to account if the promises go unfulfilled and the rumours prove false.

Only a union contract can hold the company to its word. When a union negotiates a collective agreement with an employer, the resulting contract sets out the rules of your working relationship. If either side violates that contract, there are processes in place for resolving the dispute.

Without a union, you have only whispers and promises and no way to hold the company to them.

Even before such a contract is negotiated, joining a union offers you protection. Under the freeze provisions of the federal labour laws governing union certification, the company cannot change your working condition once a union has filed for certification.

In effect, your working conditions are frozen while a first contract is negotiated – meaning the company can’t make any changes to the workplace without talking to your union.

This only happens, however, once a union is certified. Until then, the company is free to make whatever changes it wants, including cuts.

Flight attendants, pilots and dispatchers already have this protection, either because they are covered by a collective agreement or are covered by the freeze provision.

It’s time for frontline airport workers to gain a voice, too. With so many rumours flying, only a union can provide stability and predictability.

For more information or to sign a Unifor card, please contact one of your organizers.

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