Dear Members,

With the initiation of flow from WestJet Encore to WestJet in early April, your Union became aware of application of language within the Memorandum of Agreement signed on February 28, 2021, between WestJet, an Alberta Partnership and, WestJet Encore Ltd and Swoop, Inc and The Cabin Crew Members/Flight Attendants in the Service of WestJet AP, Encore and Swoop as represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 4070. 

The Union has been advised that the Employer has wrongfully altered and failed to award all WestJet Encore and Swoop Members accepting permanent employment at WestJet AP, through ‘flow’, the WestJet Savings Plan (WSP) as negotiated. This means that anyone flowing to WestJet (WS) would lose the Employer portion of their WSP. This was not made clear to WestJet Encore or Swoop Members before they accepted flow, nor was it made clear to the WR and WO bargaining committees when they signed the MOA and endorsed it for ratification. 

Today, Interim Vice-President Brigitte Benoit, filed a policy grievance to address this violation of intent. Your Union stands by the fact that WestJet Encore and Swoop Members are tenured CUPE 4070 Members of the WestJet Group. They have accrued service recognition for the purposes of vacation allotment and retirement eligibility calculations, yet are subject to all other terms and conditions of employment at WestJet AP (WS) as if they were new hire, including being placed back on probation. 

The Union has been doing our due diligence reviewing the facts – this consists of thorough research of bargaining notes, policy, past practice and discussions with impacted Members. In addition to the Union’s duty of fair representation, grievance handling consists of strategy. We are always mindful of how and when we communicate to the Membership, knowing that all of our Union Communications are eventually seen by the Employer.

As always, if you require representation, or have any questions or concerns please contact your Union: cupe4070.ca/contact

In Solidarity,
CUPE 4070 Interim Vice-President, Brigitte Benoit
WestJet Encore YYC Base VP, Colleen Tracey
WestJet Encore YYZ Base VP, Mauricio Mejia
Swoop Base VP, Allan Ramsarran
CUPE 4070 President, Crystal Hill