Dear Members,

Your WestJet Encore Bargaining Committee is extremely pleased to provide you with an update for our return to Bargaining after a 10-month hiatus!

We would like to start our third bargaining update by thanking all of our WestJet Encore Members while the Collective Bargaining process was paused. Focus was redirected to job loss mitigation due to the catastrophic effects that COVID-19 had on our aviation industry. We are now ready to re-energize our focus with hopes to conclude this bargaining process for Westjet Encore in the coming months.

As always, we pledge to be transparent and keep you well informed throughout this process. Rest assured, your elected Bargaining Committee Members are going to the table with integrity, dedication, and your best interest in mind during these negotiations.

Your WestJet Encore Bargaining Committee is comprised of:

Shantel Gailing, YYZ CCM

Jen Sachs, YYZ CCM

Colleen Tracey, YYC CCM

Chantal Weeks, YYC CCM

Chris Rauenbusch, President, CUPE Local 4070

Jamie Loiselle, Vice-President, CUPE Local 4070

 

Round 3 of Collective Bargaining took place on Zoom from February 9-11. Our Collective Agreement will be bargained based on the concepts that an overwhelming majority of Members endorse.

Although we cannot go into detail for reasons of confidentiality, we are proud to announce that both sides have reached a Tentative Agreement (TA) for the following articles (which will in part form the Collective Agreement):

●        Union Flight Release

●        Deadheading 

●        Training 

●        Vacation Statutory Holidays and GDOs 

●        Pay Schedule and Pay Discrepancies 

●        Expenses 

●        Passports/Visa

 

While we cannot provide you specific details in regards to these points, we would like to provide you with some context surrounding the tone and atmosphere in the room:

On Tuesday morning, the Committee started strong. Following introductions from both sides with the addition of our new YYC based Bargaining Committee Member, Colleen Tracey, work began immediately to finalize outstanding items from our March 2020 round of Bargaining. The feeling in the room was positive, both parties ready and willing to have productive discussions on issues important to our Members.

Each side presented their proposals, and by the end of the day, after multiple counter-proposals from each side, three (3) Articles were signed off with certain provisions in each, pending monetary discussions: Union Flight Release, Deadheading, and Training.

Agreeing to a TA means both sides agree that these Articles, as written, will be acceptable to form a part of the final Collective Agreement (CA). 

Wednesday, we carried forward the same momentum from Tuesday which lasted throughout the remainder of the week. Some Articles being negotiated required a greater length of time to review and determine the best counter-proposal in the interest of our Members. Wednesday saw further movement from each side as more counter-proposals were presented. Both the Employer and the Union were steadfast on some details, yet we were able to find sufficient common ground to sign off as TA on Expenses and Passports/Visas.

Thursday a few counter proposals were exchanged and proposals from the day prior were finalized. The following were agreed to in TA:

●        Vacation, Statutory Holidays, and GDO (Guaranteed Days Off)

●        Pay Schedule and Pay Discrepancies

 

We concluded round 3 of Collective Bargaining with 7 Articles signed off in Tentative Agreement (TA). 

During Round 4, the Bargaining Committee will focus their attention on the monumental task of negotiating the Scheduling article. Your local executive recognizes that Scheduling issues have been top of mind for everyone and the Bargaining Committee is focused on addressing this issue in ways the local cannot under our frozen agreement. We do not want our Members to continue to be in a place of hardship. Please know we take your concerns very seriously and it is not lost on us that the WestJet Encore Membership works incredibly hard. We truly feel the most effective place to resolve the core of our issues is at the bargaining table. By its very nature, the collective agreement is a major vehicle for ensuring fairness and promoting equality at the workplace and we commit to doing just that for every one of you.

Your WestJet Encore Bargaining Committee has presented dates for future Bargaining with a big push to increase bargaining dates for the next few months. We will be resuming Bargaining again on March 9-11 and April 7-9. For future dates, we are currently awaiting confirmation from the Employer leading into spring of 2021. We will communicate all dates as soon as they are finalized.

In Solidarity,

Your CUPE 4070 WestJet Encore Bargaining Committee