Unifor Local 531 – Bargaining Committee Update #12 – June 10, 2022
Dear Members,
Another week of bargaining is complete and we are one step closer to our first collective agreement. We’re excited as each week brings us closer to the finish line. Last week the Bargaining Committee and the Company met for 4 days in Vancouver. The progress we made was largely in part to the detail-oriented spreadsheet the Union had created to reference completed articles, outstanding articles, and unaddressed topics. With this tool in use, we were able to optimize our time at the bargaining table. It was also our first week with our federally appointed mediators, Barney Dobbin and Kathy Peters. We saw multiple articles agreed upon. More importantly we signed off on the final language on two items. We have been diligently working on these two articles since February. We are proud of what we will be bringing to you all once we have reached a final agreement.
While in conciliation last week the Company requested we consider adding more dates before July 5th when conciliation ends. The conciliation period is followed by 21 days of mediation. Both parties agreed to add additional bargaining dates over the summer months, including an extra week in June. We would like to be clear however, at this time, your Bargaining Committee is not interested in extending conciliation beyond the July 5th deadline. There is plenty of time to complete the bargaining if both sides are committed to the process. As we inch closer to the deadline, we will conduct a strike vote as that is the next step in the process should we find our negotiations stagnant. We will be sure to communicate all information to you in this event.
As some of you may know, the Company refuses to allow your Bargaining Committee to travel to negotiations on confirmed tickets. Instead, we travel standby, often waiting for multiple flights, after long days of bargaining. We have spent many anxious days wondering what time we might get home to our families or if we are going to get on a flight to attend bargaining with the Company. On two occasions, the YYC team has had to fly to Abbotsford and paid a high ground transportation cost. They have repeatedly denied our request for confirmed travel privileges, and we have been met with resistance and disrespect for our time. The reason being? They say, “we don’t do it for other groups”. We recently learned that the Company will be flying the ALPA pilot group on confirmed space to a meeting. Frankly, the excuse and need to show power and control over their employees is getting tiring. With flights becoming more busy, standby travel is getting harder for the Bargaining Team. On Sunday June 12th, we are expected to travel to Toronto for bargaining to commence on Monday morning. The flights from YVR and YYC are completely sold out. If the Company was truly committed to their employees, to the bargaining process and working together, this wouldn’t be an issue. While they are concerned about the possibility of us striking and want to add more dates to our bargaining calendar, they aren’t willing to go as far as to make sure their Bargaining Committee actually makes it to the bargaining table. We are aware that similar aviation industry groups all travel on confirmed space free of cost provided by the employer for bargaining but obviously those organizations understand and respect the nature of the business.
With the recent changes to our boarding times, we want to ensure that we continue to stress the importance of taking care of yourself and taking your breaks. You are legally entitled to this time to rest and refuel. The company continues to struggle with employee retention and recruitment, yet the months ahead will offer no reprieve. Please track your hours, monitor your pay, and reach out should you need any support. Boarding a full 737-800 by yourself at D-30 is not realistic and we strongly encourage our members to make your safety come first, because no one else will.
Finally, to our friends and colleagues in YEG and YYZ. We see you struggling just the same as YVR and YYC. It is not too late to join our collective, strong, already impactful voice. Now is the time to sign a card and join us. We’re bringing a strong collective agreement to our members, with their rights and priorities first and foremost in our hearts. The possibility of your co-workers going on strike in early August is strong and while we do not wish to cause more work for our fellow CSA’s in YEG and YYZ (and contracted bases), the Company has cleared the path for this possibility. We truly hope that both YEG and YYZ CSA’s join us and benefit from the hard work we have put into this collective agreement and for a better future at WestJet. We have worked hard for our members, do not accept the status quo and we sure value you more than SIXTY CENTS. It is very important to note that on June 3rd, 2022 ATS YYZ, (Unifor Local 2002) ratified a new Collective Agreement for PSA’s and Ramp that moved the starting wage from $15.55 to $21.00 and hour. This is Unifor hard at work and leading the way. Imagine what a $5 wage increase could do for you.
Sign your card today: join.unifor.org/WestJet
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 your 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]
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