A Letter To All Members

Dear Members,

Yesterday was yet another challenging day filled with frustration, disappointment, and likely many other feelings and emotions across our Membership.

These feelings are absolutely normal, and we prevail because of our unique ability as Cabin Crew Members to be thrust into situations beyond our control, rapidly deal with the potential emotional, physical, and psychological impacts we may experience, and then simply do what is required of us. I spent much of yesterday following and reading the countless social media posts by those temporarily leaving, those who have been furloughed since the start of the pandemic, as well as those remaining. Each message was based on the concept of solidarity for each other. This is exactly why I am so unbelievably proud to be entrusted with this role – we inspire each other daily to support one another even during such unbelievably tough times.

I know that where we are as a Company and as a Union, has many Members worried, wondering, and possibly creating scenarios of what may (or may not) unfold. I would like to share where I believe we are; as a Company, we are a remarkable Inflight team working across three airline brands, and more to our responsibility, as one Union banded together for the benefit of job security, and good working conditions of each of our over 4,100 members.

I am personally aware that as employees, we have been thrust back into a mode of serious job reductions, and as a result, there may be many thoughts, discussion and rumor in our lives and in our workplace regarding the continued viability of the Organization. I would like to share with you my stance on where we are at from the Union perspective, including context from our relationship with the Company’s Executive Leadership Team.

Myself, and members of your elected CUPE 4070 Executive have been part of numerous virtual meetings with our Employer over the past weeks, as partners in ensuring our Members’ interests are represented at every point along this treacherous path, and the success of our shared business in the future. I have taken away a number of understandings as to where we are at as an Organization, and as the largest union partner within the WestJet group, as well as how we fit into a successful future together:
 

• The recent furloughs and large network reductions have been caused primarily by the Government of Canada’s decision to prevent any passenger without a proven negative COVID-19 PCR test result within 72 hours, to board any aircraft bound for Canada. This policy decision caused a decimating impact on demand in all facets across the business.
  

• The efforts and extremely difficult cuts occurring now are occurring not in any effort except to allow us to enter a ‘hibernation mode’ of the airline, while still maintaining operations. This will position us as an airline as much more nimble and able to quickly activate capacity when the recovery begins.
  

• Airlines that have completely shutdown operations face a much more difficult challenge to first ‘relaunch’ operations from zero, and subsequently scale up to meet potentially rapidly building demand. The timeframe of an airline relaunch from zero is significantly more costly, cumbersome and drawn out than that of growth from a ‘heartbeat’.

In a personal conversation with our Chief Operating Officer (COO) & EVP Operations Jeff Martin, he shared his perspective as ‘keeping this airline’s heartbeat going while we weather this latest challenge and coming out the other end well positioned to recover.’ When the recovery takes hold, we need to be positioned to move quickly to meet demand. This phase will bring our Members back to work, and hopefully include a rapid return to service of many of our parked aircraft, thereby seeing a well paced return to service of our Membership.

I personally would like to share with each of you how determined this CUPE 4070 Executive is to work in partnership with our Employer towards ensuring that the warm ‘heartbeat’ is maintained in the short term, and that we can grow the operation as we come out of these dark days of the pandemic.

Next week, on January 26, 2021, I will appear before the federal House of Commons Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. This invitation by our federal government is monumental in terms of having our voice heard at the federal level. I commit to each of you, that I will adequately and appropriately relay the reality of our industry to the Committee formed by several Members of Parliament. While I am enthused and honoured to be invited to provide five minutes of remarks, followed by questions and answers asked by the government committee, I am aware that my voice next Tuesday must be the voice of all of our Members. I will not let you down.

On behalf of the entire CUPE Local 4070 Executive Team, and all of our elected representatives, along with our CUPE National Representatives, and our family of over 700,000 unionized CUPE sisters and brothers across Canada: We will survive this pandemic, there is no other way to do this. We have your back.

In Solidarity,

Chris Rauenbusch
President, CUPE Local 4070