SRC - Schedule Release Follow-Up
Dear WestJet Members,
The Union has received a number of questions and inquiries regarding the SRC – Scheduling Release Reminder communication that was sent out yesterday. Prior to schedule release, we would like to add more clarity to the preferential seniority bidding system dispute process.
A note on the preferential seniority bidding system
We would like to clarify the way the system builds schedules as we go into the dispute process for preferential seniority bidding. When the system creates a schedule, Members below you on the MSL do not exist to the system. When it comes time to build your schedule, the system is only looking at your bids. The system will build your schedule by considering all your bids and deciding how to score you the most points based on what pairings, pairing attributes and day(s) off are remaining in the system. The system is not designed to try to give you all your bids, but rather, to maximize your points based on what you bid.
Scheduling Disputes vs Grievances
We would like to clarify scheduling disputes as per the Collective Agreement:
34-2.02 In the event that a Cabin Personnel wants to address concerns with their issued monthly schedule, they will notify a Union representative on the Scheduling Review Committee within seventy-two (72) hours of schedule release to review and respond.
34-2.03 If a dispute is regarding a specific Day Off and deemed valid by the Scheduling Review Committee prior to the commencement of the disputed pairing, the Company will resolve the issue. Such resolution, which will be determined by the Company, may include:
a modification or removal of the pairing to restore the Day(s) Off with pay protection for the original pairing credit; or
the Cabin Personnel will receive premium pay of one and one half (1.5) times the rate of pay for the Credit Hours worked on the Day(s) Off should the Company determine that the pairing will continue.
Note that CCMs have 72 hours following the Company’s publication of schedules to file a dispute. Each dispute will be carefully reviewed and answered by members of the SRC. In the unlikely event that a violation has been found to have occurred, every effort will be made by the SRC and the Company to resolve the violation. Should a resolution that is not mutually agreed upon be found, it is then up to the CCM to reach out to your Base VP to begin the grievance process as outlined in Article 30 of your Collective Agreement.
Filing a Dispute
Please send all disputes or concerns to the SRC using the Schedule Dispute Form issued by the Company, also available on the ‘Transition to seniority bidding’ microsite available on Sharepoint (Westnet). To clarify: the only disputes that have a bargained resolution are day(s) off. All other concerns will be reviewed by the WS SRC, and each instance will be handled individually based on circumstance.
Note that prior to sending in a dispute, it is the responsibility of the CCM to ensure that their concern is in fact valid and does not violate any of our work rules regarding for example, monthly scheduling window, maximum consecutive days on duty, and /or minimum rest at base. These work rules can be found in Article 34 - Scheduling, and Article 35 – Reserve, of your collective agreement. The walk- through videos can provide further information and clarity on these rules if needed.
Please review the Seniority Bidding Virtual Assistance videos for more in-depth clarification on how to bid, and how the system will determine your schedule based on those bids:
As always, if you have any scheduling inquiries outside of the outlined process above, please reach out to your WS SCR: ws.src@cupe4070.ca
In Solidarity,
Your CUPE 4070 Scheduling Review Committee
WS YVR, Sarah Ferraro
WS YYC, Shelley MacDonald
WS YYZ, Calvin Gautschi