Over the past number of weeks, we have had numerous announcements from the air transportation sector as it adapts to decreased travel due to COVID-19. In a recent announcement from Air Canada Jazz our members from Unifor Local 2002 were informed that there would be an indefinite suspension of service to eight small bases affecting about 30 Unifor members.

These workers are protected with a collective agreement that has clear language covering recall rights at their current work location, bumping rights to other bases and a relocation payment if the workers choose to transfer.

The Jazz agreement has a clause prohibiting contracting out like WestJet just announced. That means that should Jazz return flying to a base that has been closed, the work is returned to the bargaining unit. Jazz could not do what WestJet did. The agreement doesn't allow for it. Base closure is not contracting out.

For a base closure, in the last round of bargaining we were successful in increasing the amount of severance available as well as moving and relocation allowances.

Our recall provisions provide that if and when work returns to the base, the employees who currently work in those bases will have first rights to the work. Only a union collective agreement can get you that kind of job security.

In addition, the union was able to negotiate with the employer an extension until August 28, 2020 to keep workers on the books collecting the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS).

These are just some of the supports and solutions a collective agreement can offer in assisting workers during hard times.

We have heard that WestJet managers are pointing to the Air Canada Jazz announcement, trying to diminish your commitment to join Unifor by saying the union could not protect those jobs. This is smoke and mirrors in an attempt to take the focus off the fact that Onex WestJet is outsourcing thousands of jobs to lower-paid ground handling service providers. This reduction of good WestJet jobs is not happening because the work will not exist in the future, but because of greed by your employer.

It is true that both WestJet and Air Canada Jazz are facing layoffs in these unprecedented times, but the impact this has on workers and their job security couldn’t be more different.

It’s not too late to get a seat at the table, or to talk to your coworkers about signing a Unifor membership card. WestJet workers who are on LOA, CERB, CEWS or in the workplace can sign union cards and be part of the fightback to save jobs at WestJet.

Unifor has joined with other Canadian airline unions in sharing concerns and providing solutions to help bring stability and prosperity back to the industry. Unifor has specifically called on the government to ensure that any aid package delivered to any sector,
including air travel, must be accompanied by strong, enforceable conditions that ensure funds are dedicated to maintaining current workers’ income and creating new opportunities for employment. 

If you have any questions about what a Unifor contract can do for you in such difficult times, or anything else, please reach out to one of your organizers.

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