WS Scheduling Review Committee – Seniority Bidding Update #1
Dear WestJet Members,
We would like to provide you with an update on Seniority Bidding. We know that there have been many questions and a heightened sense of anticipation amongst the membership as the bidding date for our first seniority-based schedule is fast approaching.
On Feb 9th, the Local 4070 Scheduling Review Committee (SRC), Communications Committee, and the Company met to discuss the prospect of a collaborative communication strategy. The Company and the SRC discussed the development of a strategic plan, including communication, videos, a microsite, emails, and support in each base.
The SRC and the company will be meeting daily through the first seniority bidding process. The Communications Committee and Executive has been and will continue to attend these meetings with the SRC to capture points for Membership communication about this process.
What is the Union’s scope in this process?
As per the collective agreement, the Union’s scope is to ensure that the Collective Agreement is adhered to.
What does the SRC do?
We work collaboratively with our counterparts at the Company to ensure CA language is followed and discuss scheduling implementation and any associated challenges. We are not directly involved in the development or implementation of the software, the Company is overseeing and implementing this bidding system. The SRC is tasked with ensuring that what was promised is delivered. In this respect, the SRC has been working tirelessly to obtain information from the Company about where we are at in the process, associated timelines, and when training is to occur per LOU #1, since the first quarterly meeting held in September 2021.
...The Parties recognize that such a transition is a significant change to how Cabin Personnel bid their monthly schedules and the Company agrees to work collaboratively with Union representatives of the Scheduling Review Committee throughout the transition. Furthermore, the Company commits to training the Schedule Review Committee on the functionality of the seniority-based preferential bidding system for the purposes of carrying out their duties pursuant to Article 34 – Scheduling (34-2.02). - LOU#1
IMPORTANT: April bids are live. If you have already bid for May, this bid is active for seniority bidding. However, if you have a standing bid entered from previous months, your standing bid is not active and you will have to re-enter it. The new options and attributes will be added to Wings on April 1. We encourage everyone to place bids after the new attributes have been added.
We will be bidding using the current Wings website, and apart from a few bidding options, the website will continue to look and function the same as it does today. The main difference will be what is happening in the background with the seniority solver as well as the extra options available in the drop-down menu.
Upon its launch in May, there will be 16 bid lines. The Union recognizes that 16 lines may not be enough and will be diligently meeting with the Company to provide our Members with what they need to make the seniority bidding system a success. Most options will remain the same, however there will be extra added options as outlined in the Transition to Seniority Bidding microsite on Westnet.
One of the biggest requests from our Membership was to have the ability to bid on specific pairing numbers and dates. The SRC brought those concerns to the Company and were successful in obtaining that request. It should be noted as well that the equalizer will be abolished and there will be no minimum days to work. If you are senior enough to work 8-9, 10 hour one-day pairings, then you will only be scheduled 8-9 days for the month.
The option to bid for AM/PM reserve will be live for May schedules.
What other changes can I expect going forward?
- The Company will publish the electronic bid packages by 09:00MT on the 9th.
- Bidding will close at 09:00MT on the 12th.
- Schedules will be published no later than 19:00MT on the 21st.
What support is available for Members?
We have been consistently capturing your questions and concerns and we have been working with the Company on continuous communication and microsite content. Members of the SRC will be available in the Crew Rooms on April 9, 10, and 11. More information on this to follow.
In Solidarity,
Your CUPE 4070 WestJet Scheduling Review Committee
WS YVR, Sarah Ferraro
WS YYC, Shelly MacDonald
WS YYZ, Calvin Gautschi
&
Your CUPE 4070 Executive Team
CUPE 4070 Interim President, Crystal Hill
CUPE 4070 Interim Vice-President, Brigitte Benoit
CUPE 4070 Secretary-Treasurer, Alex Grigoriev
CUPE 4070 Recording Secretary, Marco Di Virgilio
WestJet YVR Base VP, Chris Brewer
Interim WestJet YYC Base VP. Brandy Whitby
Interim WestJet YYZ Base VP, Bryan Hansraj
WestJet Encore YYC Base VP, Colleen Tracey
WestJet Encore YYZ Base VP, Mauricio Mejia
Swoop Base VP, Allan Ramsarran