WestJet is rapidly outsourcing jobs and making decisions that hurt workers, leaving employees with fewer choices and major pay cuts. The latest developments surrounding the WestJet Vacations (WVI) and Sunwing integration highlight just how vulnerable your jobs are without union protection.
Here’s what’s happening:
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WestJet Vacations Contact Centre agents are being forced to choose between two poor options:
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Option 1: Stay at WestJet as a Sales and Service Agent (SSA), which comes with a 16.5% pay cut—more than $11,000 per year.
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Option 2: Transition to Sunwing as a Customer Experience Agent (CEA), where the pay cut is even steeper—upwards of $20,000 annually. Sunwing has also promised "incentives" and "premiums," but no one knows what they mean or if they’ll make up for the wage cuts.
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Option 1: Stay at WestJet as a Sales and Service Agent (SSA), which comes with a 16.5% pay cut—more than $11,000 per year.
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No severance packages are being offered to impacted employees, leaving workers with no real support for the sudden loss of their roles.
- Term agents at WVI are being sent back to their original positions, leaving permanent agents to face these tough and unfair decisions.
This is all part of a strategic decision announced by Onex through Heidi Mackenzie to fully integrate WestJet Vacations into Sunwing Vacations Group by April 2025. The integration means that WestJet Vacations jobs will no longer exist, and without union protection, WestJet workers are being forced into lower-paying roles or losing their jobs altogether.
Outsourcing Isn't a Solution – It’s a Direct Threat to Your Livelihood
This isn’t the first time WestJet has used outsourcing to cut costs at workers' expense. Here’s the reality: more than 600 jobs previously performed by Contact Centre employees are now performed by lower-cost outsourced workers.
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370 Sales and Service Agent (SSA) jobs are already outsourced to third-party companies.
- Nearly 200 chat support agent roles have been outsourced to lower-cost contractors.
- WestJet Vacations Contact Centre jobs are now being eliminated altogether, with roles being absorbed by Sunwing or reassigned at lower wages. With 58 jobs already being done by outsourced providers.
Onex WestJet’s goal is clear—reduce costs through outsourcing and restructuring, regardless of the impact on employees. Without a union, these decisions will continue to be made without consultation or accountability, leaving workers with no voice and no protection.
Unifor’s Collective Agreement at Air Canada Shows There’s a Better Way
At Air Canada Contact Centres, jobs are protected by Unifor contracts. These collective agreements ensure that contact centre work is performed by union members, safeguarding jobs from being outsourced. Air Canada workers enjoy:
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Job Security: Unifor agreements prevent outsourcing and protect existing roles.
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Fair Wages and Benefits: Through collective bargaining, Unifor members receive competitive pay and benefits.
- Accountability: Employers cannot unilaterally make decisions that harm workers without union input.
WestJet workers deserve the same protections. A unionized workforce would have the power to negotiate better terms, secure fair pay, and prevent outsourcing altogether.
Why You Need to Act Now
Without union protection, WestJet workers are left with no options other than to accept pay cuts, unclear promises, or job losses. The Call Centre Employee Association (CCEA) and Technical Administrative and Professional Support (TAPS) cannot protect your jobs or negotiate better conditions. Only Unifor can provide the legal power to fight outsourcing and protect your future.
By joining Unifor, you can secure:
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Job Ownership Language: Ensuring your work stays with you and cannot be outsourced.
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Protection Against Restructuring: Legally binding agreements that prevent Onex WestJet from eliminating roles or cutting wages without negotiation.
- Fair Treatment: Better pay, benefits, and transparency in how your work is valued.
Time is Running Out
With WestJet Vacations jobs being eliminated and more roles at risk of outsourcing, the urgency to act cannot be overstated. Joining Unifor is the only way to protect your job, your pay, and your future.
Take control of your future by signing your Unifor membership card today. Together, we can stand up against outsourcing and ensure that WestJet workers are respected, protected, and empowered.
Sign your Unifor membership card today to secure your job and protect your future. If you have any questions or need more information, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Unifor organizing team.
Don’t wait for your job to be the next casualty of outsourcing. Act now—sign your membership card today!
In solidarity,
Billy O’Neill
Unifor National Representative, Organizing
📞 416.605.1443
✉️ billy.oneill@unifor.org
Lucy Alessio
Unifor National Coordinator, Organizing
📞 416.998.3189
✉️ lucy.alessio@unifor.org
Don’t wait—click here to sign your card today!
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