Last week, Westjet sent the official notice to the Federal Minister of labour advising the intent of Group Termination for Tier Two stations consisting of 50 or more workers. The AEA has advised that they have appointed their representatives to sit on the Joint Planning Committee (JPC). There are several unique challenges and official complaints to the Minister of Labour challenging this approach.

• WestJet announces a group termination
• The AEA, funded by WestJet announces that it will appoint members to the JPC
• WestJet and the AEA deny worker requests to elect their own JPC representatives
• The AEA tells workers jobs can not be saved, contravening the intent of the JPC
• WestJet and the AEA signs a deal that provided minimal severance payments and some flight benefits

The current system has forced workers to seek outside legal representation to challenge both WestJet and the AEA. The lack of response from the Minister of Labour has left these workers to try and fend for themselves.

As members of Unifor, workers would have the legal authority to negotiate with WestJet as equals. The union would have objected to outsourcing and intervened to save jobs. The AEA, on the other hand, acted as an agent of your employer, supporting job cuts and outsourcing.

If WestJet workers are ever to stop further outsourcing or make gains in your employment conditions, you will need the legal protections of Unifor. We will continue to offer you guidance and support, but until a majority of WestJetters sign confidential union membership cards, we are unable to negotiate on your behalf.

As members of the union, you will elect representatives who have a common interest in saving jobs, improving your working conditions and holding your employer accountable.

Unifor fights and wins to protect jobs on a regular base. The Toronto Star announced they would outsource 24 jobs to the United States a few weeks ago. Unifor fought to save these jobs and protect our members and their families. Many thought Unifor could do nothing and that it was only 24 jobs. We knew 24 families depended on us and got busy to save these jobs. We are happy to report that we negotiated and protected these jobs.

In 2019, Nemak, an aluminium producer doing specialized work for General Motors, announced they would be closing their Windsor Ontario location and move the work to Mexico causing the loss of 200 Unifor members jobs. Unifor filed a grievance because we had a contractual commitment. In late November 2019, the arbitrator ruled against Unifor’s grievance and awarded that Nemak’s plant closure could proceed.

The union immediately launched a judicial review of the arbitrator’s decision. We are happy to announce that on October 6, 2020, the Divisional Court quashed the arbitrator’s decision. The Division Court Justice accepted Unifor’s argument that it had a contractual commitment that the work must be done in Windsor if it is to be done by Nemak. The Court decision affirms that Nemak is not above the terms of the collective agreement.

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.

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.

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