With just days before new labour code standards are set to go into effect over the Labour Day weekend, WestJet is asking for exemptions from parts of the new code.
The new code requires that all workers in federally regulated sectors, such as airlines, be given at least 24 hours’ written notice of any scheduling change, have the right to refuse last-minute overtime to carry out family responsibilities and are entitled to one 30-minutre break in a five-hour shift.
If WestJet gets its way, however, these perfectly reasonable rules would not apply to Customer Service Agents, Guest Servicer Agents, Baggage Services Agents and TAC workers at WestJet.
In other words, WestJet wants to be able to change your schedules with little or no notice. It wants be able to tell you to keep working late, even if you have to pick up a child at school or daycare. And it wants to unilaterally decide when and if you get a break.
We all understand that emergencies come up at work. Delayed flights and bad weather can mean that schedules need to change and some people might need to stay at work longer to deal with the situation. We all get that.
But that doesn’t give WestJet or any employer the right to ignore minimum labour standards in this country. With a union, the employer sits down with your elected union representatives and discusses how such new regulations will be implemented in their particular workplace. This gives you a voice that you do not have right now.
Unifor represents many workers in dozens of federally regulated workplaces across Canada. In each of them, we are meeting with the employers to discuss the new labour code and how it applies to those workplaces. That’s how things are done in a unionized workplace.
Instead, WestJet is arguing that the laws simply should not apply to it.
That’s not good enough. You have built this company into a leading airline in North America, and deserve to have a voice when changes are made to your working conditions.
This is just the start. With the Onex deal about to close, you can expect more changes to come your way.
Only a union can give you a voice. To sign a membership card or to get cards for your co-workers, contact one of your organizers.
Contact us! Talk to our organizing representatives! All calls are confidential.
Ontario
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
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