WestJet has announced its updated summer schedule offering flights to 39 Canadian destinations, five in the U.S and one to Mexico. In the coming days and months, some employees will be called back to work to support expanded routes.

In our messaging last week, Unifor sent out information specifically for Air Transportation workers returning to the workplace. If you have not had a chance to read it, you can check it out here.

It is imperative that the health, safety and well-being of workers is at the forefront of reopening the economy and the gradual return to expanded flight destinations. WestJet benefits from strong safety measures for workers. After all, consumer confidence will be key to attracting travellers back to airports to begin flying again.

Despite this, there has been a lack of substance or clarity from the AEA on recalls.

The internal associations at WestJet have failed yet again to negotiate adequate recall rights and provisions. In their latest mailings, they talk about progress that is being made for recall, but provide few real details.

We are hearing from many frustrated WestJet workers who feel let down and frustrated that no full process has been set in place. The AEA states that you will be recalled by tenure (seniority) - but that applies only during COVID 19, and there seems to be no long-term process in place for you to depend on.

Once again, the AEA has failed again to give you the real answers that a Unifor Collective Agreement would provide, with strong language you can depend on such as length of recall rights and a clear process that the employer must follow. With the AEA and CCEA, the employer can still recall who they want under the guise of “business needs or skill sets” without any mechanism to ensure workers are not missed in the process.

We have also heard from the AEA and the CCEA that WestJet has quietly withdrawn its application to the Federal Minister of Labour related to Division IX of the Canada Labour Code. This section relates to group terminations benefits at the six-month mark if workers are not returned to active status.

A real union would be working directly with the employer about how recalls are handled, not just passing on WestJet’s messaging on the matter.

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.

You can help gain a voice in the workplace by clicking the Join Unifor button above and filling out the online membership card. Please also share this email with co-workers and encourage them to join.

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