We’re pleased to send you this first official email to all workers in your group!. We needed to wait until we received your email contact information from WestJet, which has now been provided.

We’re excited to officially welcome you to Unifor Local 531, your new local union. Local 531 is committed to supporting you and working with you to ensure your rights and interests are represented.

Your primary contact at Local 531 is:

Karen Berry
Local 531 President
Vancouver CSA
(705) 828-7795
[email protected]

Sherwin Antonio
Local 531 YYC Unit Chair
Calgary GSL-B
(403) 660-7154
[email protected]

Erica Kelly
Local 531 YYZ Unit Chair
Toronto CSA
(416) 455-5559
[email protected]

Process Moving Forward

As we outlined in our original welcome message, your group is now officially part of Unifor, and we’ve initiated the process of negotiating your inclusion into the existing collective agreement for WestJet workers. This process was agreed to by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) and includes:

  1. Negotiation Period: A designated period of time to negotiate your group’s terms into the current collective agreement.

  2. Binding Arbitration: If any outstanding issues remain at the end of the negotiation period, they will be resolved through binding arbitration to ensure a fair outcome.

This process ensures that your rights and working conditions are addressed efficiently and effectively.

Upcoming Bargaining Representative Elections

We are also preparing for elections to select one Bargaining Representative from each location: Toronto and Calgary. These representatives will engage with you, the membership, and work closely with both Local 531 and Unifor National representatives to negotiate your inclusion into the collective agreement.

More details about the election process, timelines, and how to participate will follow shortly. We encourage anyone interested in representing their colleagues to consider putting their name forward!

Questions or Concerns?

If you have any immediate questions, concerns, or ideas to share, don’t hesitate to reach out to your point of contact at Local 531 or reply to this email. Your participation and feedback are essential as we move forward together.

Thank you for your trust in Unifor. We look forward to working with you and building a strong collective voice for WestJet RSAs and RSCs.

In solidarity,

Billy O’Neill
Unifor National Representative Organizing
416.605.1443
[email protected]

Lucy Alessio
Unifor National Coordinator Organizing
416.998.3189
[email protected]