Unifor Local 531 – Bargaining Committee Update #11 – May 20, 2022

Dear Members,

We want to thank you for your continued support of our Bargaining Team. It keeps us motivated as we strive to achieve a clear and effective Collective Agreement that will create more equity, fairness, and balance to your workplace.  We know many of you are wondering when our agreement will be complete, and we can propose it to you. As much as we wish to see it in place, we remain committed to the process.  At times during bargaining, we may enter into lengthy conversations with the Company with what may seem to be minor issues but a misinterpretation of language or its intent could result in unfavorable outcomes for our members. We have remained steadfast and firm in our stance for change while the Company insists on “status quo”.  We are acutely aware of our Full-Time, Part-Time, and Casual work groups priorities during these negotiations.

Bargaining Update

After 4 weeks, we returned to the bargaining table in Toronto from May 15th to 18th.  Slow but steady progress was made but we remain strong in achieving our goals, especially when it comes to the issues that affects our members the most. The Bargaining Team and the Company have been working on Scheduling language since the beginning of February and have not come to an agreement after passing the article 17 times. However, we are pleased with the progress of signing off on Union Recognition this week; an important milestone as we have not signed off any bargaining articles since March 4th. Union Recognition protects the work that we perform at our bases and what an individual outside of the bargaining unit can or cannot perform. Having strong Union Recognition language will ensure that our CSAs in our YYC and YVR bases will have jobs to perform for many more years to come.  The Company provided us with assurances that they are not wishing for the leadership teams in our bases to  perform our jobs.

Conciliation Update

As of Friday, May 20, we find ourselves 16 days into the Conciliation process with it currently set to end on July 5th at the 60-day time limit.  We are looking forward to working with the Conciliators in our upcoming Bargaining session in Vancouver on May 30th to June 2nd, June 13 to 15th and June 27th to 29th.  At that time, the Bargaining Committee and the Company can mutually agree to extend the conciliation process or file for mediation.  If we determine we do not wish to extend the conciliation process, we will enter into a 21 day “cooling off” period. 

We would like to thank both our Pilot and Flight Attendant colleagues for their support in our decision for filing for conciliation and we look forward to working with them in the future on issues that impact our workplace.  

“Your CUPE 4070 Executive would like to show our support for our fellow Union Members at Unifor 531 and ask that our Members as CUPE 4070 do the same.  Understanding that when standards in our industry are raised, all of our standards are raised” – CUPE 4070

“The WestJet ALPA MEC fully supports our fellow union members at Unifor 531 as they strive to negotiate a fair collective agreement.  Please take the time to voice your support to our CSA colleagues of Unifor 531 when you see them at work” – WestJet ALPA MEC

YYC Baggage Team Update

Over the past 6 months, the YYC Baggage team has been expressing their concern for their safety, wellness and working conditions in their department. YYC has seen baggage delivery times upwards of three hours resulting in very frustrated and at times, abusive guests. YYC baggage employees have expressed their concerns to both their leaders and our Bargaining Committee Member, Sherwin Antonio (YYC GSL-B). These respectful, productive conversations have had a pivotal influence on the Company in advocating for the Calgary Baggage Team needs.  Sherwin has expressed his concern for the safety of his team as well the impact of the Mishandled Baggage Ratio. As a result, we were pleased to learn that the company will be hiring multiple employees into the following positions: Connection Lead, Ramp Service Manager as well as increasing the BSA employee count. We are also excited to see the return of a Baggage Services Manager to lead the Baggage team in YYC.  Although our baggage handling company may still be experiencing service and delivery problems, we are hopeful that this is a great step in the right direction in providing our guests the service they deserve.

This is just one of the positive changes your Bargaining Committee has been able to influence in a few short months!

Boarding D-35 Trial in YYC

Currently in YYC, our members have been involved in a trial to reduce boarding time on WestJet flights to D-35.  This trial is to be done with single agent boarding and has been putting pressure on CSAs to expedite our already extremely task saturated process.  CUPE 4070, the Union representing our Flight Attendants are aware of this trial occurring in YYC and we remind our members when confirming the boarding time with the lead FA, that their crew have enough time to complete duties prior to commencing boarding.  While adjusting the boarding time may give the Flight Attendants more time prior to boarding, maintaining SPOT, ensuring there is enough time to complete your gate tasks and verifying guests needs must remain a priority.

This is a good reminder to all our members in both YYC and YVR to ensure we do not rush from task to task because you have been scheduled too tightly.  Missing our breaks, skipping a moment to use the washroom or rushing to ensure planes go out on time, risks your personal safety. Remember WestJet’s Safety Promise is “Safety Above All” which was elevated from one of the core values in March.  Stay safe out there!

Unifor Members Being Held in Prison in the Dominican Republic

Since April 5th, Unifor member Bal Krishna Dubey, a part-time electrical mechanic at Pivot Airlines and a member of Unifor Local 2002, along with two flight attendants and two pilots – members of CUPE and ALPA, respectively – have been held in Dominican Republic, after discovering and reporting suspected contraband on their plane.  In doing so, the crew prevented a possible onboard fire, and a probable air disaster resulting from the added weight and unsafe location of the contraband on the plane. Despite that, and despite immediately following all local and international laws and regulations, Dominican authorities want the crew to be held in prison for up to 12 months as an investigation runs its course. They have faced daily threats, including explicit threats on their lives for their actions, and Unifor is gravely concerned for their safety, mental health, and physical well-being. Bal Krishna and his CUPE and ALPA colleagues need the support of Unifor members to put pressure on the Canadian and Dominican governments. Follow the link below to write Canada’s foreign affairs minister, Canada's Dominican Republic ambassadors and your local MP today to demand they do everything they can to bring Bal Krishna and the whole crew home.

https://www.unifor.org/campaigns/all-campaigns/help-free-unifor-member-held-dr

We urge all our members to stay in contact with your Unifor Bargaining Committee and watch for bulletins and updates over the coming weeks as we progress through the conciliation process.  This is you Collective Agreement and your future with WestJet.  Please be involved and be engaged, we are stronger together.  Please reach us at [email protected]

In solidarity,

Your Unifor 531 Bargaining Committee

YVR

Karen Berry
705.828.7795
[email protected]

Mark Enns
778.552.2344
[email protected]

Breanne Laihow
778.887.6156
[email protected]

YYC

Sherwin Antonio
403.660.7154
[email protected]

Sandeep Samrai
403.608.9392
[email protected]

Jamie Mote
403.606.0464
[email protected]

Lindsay Landry
403.850.4748
[email protected]