Dear WestJet Members,

Your CUPE 4070 Hotel & Transportation Committee has been working diligently on the shortage of rooms in the YYG market. This communication is an update on those efforts.  

The current situation is that Cabin Personnel with YYG layovers are being transported and overnighted in the YQM market. This has happened because decisions by the Employer have led to them being over their contracted room allotment. Your Hotel & Transportation Committee and CUPE 4070  Executive are not supportive of the current situation. To be clear: this is an egregious violation of our Collective Agreement, and we did not consent to this.  

The main decision made by the Employer that led to our current situation, as we understand it, relates to a Network Scheduling change. With a very busy summer travel season in the Eastern markets this year, YYG is and has been sold out of rooms.  

We are advised that Travelliance Connections is doing multiple daily follow-ups on behalf of the Company to secure as many rooms as possible as soon as they become available. This has not, unfortunately, resolved the current situation because the Company is simply unable to rent rooms that do not exist. This means that some crews will still be required to overnight in the YQM market. Affected crews requiring ground transport to YQM will receive notice from the Company. 

We continue to work aggressively with the Employer on this situation and seek an appropriate resolution for our Cabin Personnel. We will keep you updated with information as it becomes available. 

As Cabin Personnel ourselves, your Hotel & Transportation Committee is as upset by these circumstances as you are. We truly appreciate your patience as we continue to work to a permanent and acceptable resolution. You deserve reliable accommodations and transportation, provided as outlined in our Collective Agreement, while we are on the road, and we will continue to hold our Employer accountable for meeting these most basic expectations. 

In Solidarity,
Your CUPE 4070 Hotel and Transportation Committee