Dear Members,

The Company has advised the Union of recalls for WestJet (WS) Members in the YVR base. A communication will be released by the Company later today, and recalls will be effective May 24, 2021 in order to facilitate necessary training to be fully qualified for the planned enhanced WS network flying as the summer months begin.

The Company is recalling into each base as necessary for their planned network flying, as per sub article 5.01 of the Layoff and Recall article in the Collective Agreement. Today’s recall is specific to the YVR base. The Union wishes to assure our Membership that we continue to work with our Employer to bring back Members across all of our bases as soon as possible.

Sub article 5.05 of the Layoff and Recall article of the Collective Agreement (CA) permits the Company to require an expedited response to a recall notice where “in exceptional circumstances, the Company requires additional Cabin Personnel on short notice and cannot provide the Cabin Personnel with seven (7) Calendar Days to respond to the Notice of Recall as outlined in 47-5.04 above, the Cabin Personnel will have forty-eight (48) hours from the date the email was sent to the Cabin Personnel to respond to the Company.”

In this instance due to significant training requirements, the Company will be using this 48-hour requirement for response to the recall notices.

The company will also be issuing contingency recall notices above and beyond their requirements in order to fill any vacancies due to Members that may wish to decline their recall notice. These notices will be indicated as such.

Please know that schedules will be assigned at the Company’s discretion and they have informed the Union that Cabin Personnel recalled in May will likely see a high number of reserve days assigned to them for the month of May due to the uncertainty of the federal government’s Covid response. Members accepting recall in this round will be able to bid for the June 2021 block month onward.

To find out if you are being offered a recall, check the personal email account that you registered with the Company when you began your most recent inactive status: Ensure to check your ‘spam/junk’ folder as well. The Company will provide any official recall notice to this address.

Ability to decline recall:

As per the Collective Agreement in place between WestJet and CUPE Local 4070, if you are able to hold recall, and recall is offered to you, you may elect to decline a recall and await a future recall. You may opt to decline any recall until such time as there are no other Members junior to you on the list, at which time a decline to recall would be the end of your employment.

Company Seniority List vs Master Seniority List:

As indicated during the CA ratification process, the Company Seniority List will continue to be utilized for layoff and recall until such time as the new Master Seniority List (MSL) under the CA has been constructed, released, and finalized, following the dispute period.

For clarification: This recall will use the Company Seniority List.

The work towards construction of the MSL has begun involving both the Union and the Company. We will separately communicate an update on this and other CA implementation progress soon. Your Union is pleased to be able to communicate this positive news today for our YVR based WS Members.

Despite increasing vaccination rates, please continue to follow all directions related to COVID-19 protocols from the Company and the Union, and use your PPE as appropriate and directed.

For concerns or questions related to health and safety, please contact the CUPE 4070 WestJet Health & Safety Committee at: ws.ohs@cupe4070.ca.

Additionally, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Union via our contact form: www.cupe4070.ca/contact should you have further questions regarding this recall.


In Solidarity,
Your CUPE 4070 Executive Team