Local News

Calvin Gautschi 2023-07-07 Calvin Gautschi 2023-07-07

Canadian Labour Code Changes

Dear Members,

We are writing to update you regarding the Employer's known non-compliance with the amendments to the Canada Labour Code pertaining to Medical Leave with Pay and Personal Leave.

In December 2022, the Canada Labour Code was amended to include ten days of Medical Leave with Pay for all federally regulated employees, regardless of status (full-time, part-time, casual, etc.). With the implementation of Medical Leave with Pay came the qualifications amendment to Personal Leave, that Personal Leave cannot be taken for personal illness or injury. This means that Personal Days (Personal Leave) cannot bededucted from your federally regulated sick bank (days of Medical Leave with Pay).

For the last six months, the Employer has not been complying with the Code amendments and has been deducting personal leave from sick leave banks. This resulted in the Union filing Individual Grievances for the affected Members who have brought their issues forward to the Union. The Employer has denied those grievances.

In response to this, your Union filed Policy Grievance WS-POL-2023-003 - Failure to Implement Sick Leave Provisions of the Canada Labour Code on June 22, 2023, at Step II of the Grievance Procedure. The Union and Employer agreed to waive the Step II Hearing and proceed to mediation, as the violations were established and clear.

Additionally, the Union was made aware that Rainmaker is capping all Cabin Personnel's sick banks at the part-time maximum of 15 days. This issue was escalated by the Union. The Employer indicated they are aware of the cap, that Crew Pay is tracking Cabin Personnel's accruals, and that the software update to address this cap was being held off until after mediation.

On July 5, 2023, your Union met with the Employer and Arbitrator William Kaplan to mediate the policy grievance filed in June. Led by YYC Base Vice-President Brandy Whitby along with Vice President Tyson Conrod, CUPE National Representatives, and CUPE National Legal Counsel, we weresuccessful in obtaining a favourable Memorandum of Settlement for Policy Grievance WS-POL-2023-003.

Upon entering mediation, our position was clear – we were unwilling to agree to any concessionary proposals for compliance with the Code regarding changes to the maximumaccruals for sick time and sick bank maximum allotments.

We are pleased to report that we were successful in attaining our original grievance asks and in attaining proposed language amendments that are significantly beneficial for Members.

Of significance:

• On August 1, 2023, Cabin Personnel will be provided a new annual allotment of three paid Personal Leave days for their use in the 2023 calendar year, and all remaining sick day accruals for the 2023 calendar year will be placed into the active Cabin Personnel’s sick bank as an allotment (to a maximum of 22 days)
• Sick days will be front loaded at the beginning of the calendar year and no longer accrued (12 for active Full-Time Members and 10 for active Part-Time Members)
• The Sick Bank maximums remain the same (22 days for Full-Time Members and 15 days for Part-Time Members)
• Active Cabin Personnel will be entitled to three paid Personal Leave days reconciled outside of the sick bank
• Returning to duty from Personal Leave prior to the Release Time of an original pairing is protected within CA 34-23 - Return to Duty with Schedule Assigned (Not Including Sick Leave)
• All language pertaining to a “doctor’s certificate” has beenamended to a “health care practitioner’s certificate” - this provides greater scope of treatment providers that are nowable to provide a sick note/certificate, if required

The new language comes into effect on August 1, 2023, and the Company has advised the Union that a communication and referenceable material will be released in the coming weeks.

Your Union is committed to actively and fiercely fighting for your rights not only as bargained in the Collective Agreement, but as legislated in the Canada Labour Code by the Government of Canada. Our position remains the same - compliance with the Canada Labour Code is not optional, it is the law.

President, Alia Hussain
Vice President, Tyson Conrod
Recording Secretary, Calvin Gautschi
Secretary-Treasurer, Alex Grigoriev

Swoop Base VP, Sherrie Moore
WestJet Encore YYC/YYZ Base VP, Adrian Dayrit
WestJet YEG/YVR Base VP, Chris Brewer
WestJet YYC Base VP, Brandy Whitby
WestJet YYZ Base VP, Bryan Hansraj

Calvin Gautschi 2023-07-06 Calvin Gautschi 2023-07-06

July Newsletter

Topics in this Newsletter:
President's Updates
Return to Work Committee Update
Bringing a Guest on a Layover
Importance of Documentation
Shift Trades
Save the Dates
Galley Gossip

President's Update

Dear Members

A quick update on the past month inside the local;

Union Grievance Management Software- We have spent the past several months researching union management software programs. Over the past month we have met with various software providers looking for a replacement program for our internal database management that is no longer being supported and is obsolete. We looked at several providers across Canada and the US. We are hoping to make a decision soon – and will share the outcome with the Membership! This is a critical piece to our operations as grievance and database management are at the core of the work we do and are critical to having internal organization and flow for this Local in the years to come.
Cabin Crew Jump Seat Agreements- We were advised by Air Transat that the company has chosen not to pursue the agreement at this time. We are disappointed to hear this and will continue to advocate for this from our employer and the other companies as this is something that we believe our members should have access to. CALM Air is currently in active discussions with the organization for a CCM arrangement and we will communicate once we have more information. Air Canada is another one we pursued but they had no interest at this time.
Townhall- We thank all those who participated in the Townhall. The video is now posted on the CUPE website. Thank you to everyone who submitted questions in advance. The Executive Board is meeting next week to discuss our next date and will share that information soon!
Special Membership Meeting- Thank you for your participation in the Special Membership Meeting. The participation of our members allowed us to stand up a committee to ensure our members' voices are appropriately and meaningfully engaged in decisions that have direct impact on them! If you wish to view the video, please log onto the CUPE website.
#Unpaidworkwontfly Campaign- Thank you to all those who participated and shared in the petition. 16998 signatures received! The next step is the House of commons has 45 days to respond to the petition- if the House is not in sitting upon the due date, they must respond to our petition at the next sitting. Those who participated in the petition will receive the response via email. The Airline Division Council of Presidents (ADCP) will meet next in September to plan our next step to our campaign. Please stay tuned.

WO Integration- We are actively engaged with the Employer discussing the WO merger. Our WO Integration Advisory Committee will be stood up around July 22, 2023, and we will hit the ground running – working on getting feedback. We remain committed to keeping our Membership informed in a timely manner.
WS Collective Bargaining 2025 - CA2 - We have added a count down timer to the website for when the various Collective Agreements expire. We ask our Members to begin to contemplate what our priorities should be. Please consider keeping notes on things that arise out of our current CA that you believe should be addressed. Internally we have begun to lay out our strategic plan. #beready #ourturn2025

Alia Hussain
CUPE 4070 President

Return to Work Committee Update

Please click here for the RTW (Return to Work) Committee update

Bringing a Guest on a Layover

Happy summer from your Hotel and Transportation Committee. With the season underway, we'd like to take a moment to remind everyone about the policy regarding bringing a guest in Company Transportation to/from hotels.

All requests must be made using the form on our Company issued device (iPad) and approved through Crew Accommodations. The permission to allow guests to ride along in the shuttle doesn’t reside with the Captain or Cabin Manager / Lead, nor the individual driving the van.

The reasons this form exists are numerous including implications around vehicle size, contractual agreements, insurance coverage, safety and approved capacity of seats for crew comfort. Additionally, some countries/destinations require specific guest manifests that can be verified by that region's police at any time. If the manifest doesn’t match the riders, the transportation company and the driver can be penalized financially, or more severe consequences can occur.

Lastly, some companies simply choose not to offer the ability to bring an additional guest and therefore are not included on the form list.

Please ensure you are following the documented process as outlined in Company communications. It can be unfair to Crew Members who did follow the process and may or may not have been granted approval to bring their guest to have others show up unannounced. This ability, when available, is a perk to all Crew and we'd like to continue offering it in the future, and not have it taken away from us.

Thank you and happy flying!
Your CUPE 4070 Hotel and Transportation Committee

Importance of Documentation

Completing an IHR and sending a copy to your DPM and Union Representatives is an important step to actioning change. It establishes documentation of the issue, and the Company cannot claim they were unaware of the issue.

For example, reporting safety issues such dirty ovens or extensive duty days due to schedule construction. Sharing this documentation with the Union is vital so that it can be followed up with by the appropriate committees such as Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), Base Vice President and the Executive Board.

This data is important to the Union to document issues and build our data to bargain for better working and living conditions.

To contact the Union got to www.cupe4070.ca/contact

Shift Trades

Shift Trade reminders, if you are giving away a partial shift trade, please indicate it in the comments section. As once a pairing is split, the split portion can be traded without the other person knowing it was a shift trade and that they will not be paid any Trip RIGs. Please provide this courteousey to your fellow Cabin Crew Members and take care of one another.

WS CA 34-20.04 & WR CA 34-17.04:The MDPC will not be applied to any duty period which was shortened as a result of a partial Shift Trade. The Trip RIG will not be applied to any pairing which is modified as a result of a partial Shift Trade.

Save the Dates

Special Membership Meeting (SMM)
July 4, 2023

To view the meeting minutes and video recording, please log into the CUPE website, once logged in, on the right side lower down click the button 'Previous GMM/SMM/Townhalls'

Townhall - Informal
July 5th, 2023

To view the video recording, please log into the CUPE website, once logged in, on the right side lower down click the button 'Previous GMM/SMM/Townhalls'

General Membership Meeting (GMM)
November 8, 2023 1100PT/1200MT/1400ET - Sign Up Here

Open only to Members in Good Standing

When you sign into the meeting meeting the day of, please ensure your first and last name, and your employee number is showing. Otherwise you cannot be verified and will be denied entry into the meeting.

**DO NOT USE YOUR WORK EMAIL ADDRESS**

May 2023 GMM video recording and meeting minutes is on our website, after you have logged in, you can click here for quick access.

Galley Gossip

(Visit the Galley Gossip Wall on our website to see previous submissions and answers)

Galley Gossip: As released in the WestJet Live event on June 15, it was shown that the MAX-10 will not have a mid-cabin lav so that more seats can be fit in the cabin. The lineups for the lavs are already horrible. What can be done about this?

Answer: The Union can only enforce what is in the bargained Collective Agreement and what is in the Canadian Labor Code. Please provide this feedback to the Employer via the appropriate reporting channels.

Galley Gossip: Crew Meals- Can we get crew meals on US flights? It's so hard to pack food when the US & CAD agriculture directives keep changing and varies from one airport to another. Also some of our '37 flights are the same stage length as '87 flights that receive crew meals so perhaps that could be revisited as well. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Answer: The Employer only desires to do monetary bargaining at the designated bargaining time. The current Collective Agreement expires Dec.31, 2025. Each September non-monetary items can be bargained, keeping in mind, many things will have a monetary side, due to labor or implementation on the Employer side.

Galley Gossip: Swoop fa’s are being told by pilots that were going to lose our jobs when the companies “merge”? Is there any truth to this?

Answer: The Employer has advised that no one will lose their jobs due to the merger of Swoop (WO)

On behalf of your Local 4070 Executives:

President, Alia Hussain
Vice President, Tyson Conrod
Recording Secretary, Calvin Gautschi
Secretary-Treasurer, Alex Grigoriev

Swoop Base VP, Sherrie Moore
WestJet Encore YYC/YYZ Base VP, Adrian Dayrit
WestJet YEG/YVR Base VP, Chris Brewer
WestJet YYC Base VP, Brandy Whitby
WestJet YYZ Base VP, Bryan Hansraj

Calvin Gautschi 2023-07-04 Calvin Gautschi 2023-07-04

Swoop Integration Advisory Committee Election

Good day Members,

Thank you for all who attended the SMM and participated in the vote to have your voice heard.

We are running an election for the Swoop Integration Advisory Committee. This will consist of one member from each city (1xYEG, 2xYHM/YYZ).

Please review the Committees role here.

If you have questions please reach out to CUPE here.

The following is an outline for this Election:
Nominations Open:
July 4, 2023 at 10:30PT / 11:300MT / 13:30ET
Nominations Close:
July 9, 2023 at 14:00PT / 15:00MT / 17:00ET
Nomination Acceptance Due:
July 14, 2023 at 14:00PT / 15:00MT / 17:00ET
Resume/Info Sheet Due:
July 14 2023 at 14:00PT / 15:00MT / 17:00ET
First Round Election Start:
July 16, 2023 at 03:00PT / 04:00MT / 06:00ET
First Round Election End:
July 21, 2023 at 15:00PT / 16:00MT / 18:00ET

Only Members in Good Standing can be nominated and can participate in the voting process.
If you are not a Member in Good Standing, to begin the process, click here.

After all steps are completed, the final step is finished at the next GMM, which occurs every May and November.

If you are unsure if you are a Member in Good Standing, inquire here.

Notes:

The nominator must discuss the nomination with the nominee and both must be Members In Good Standing.
DO NOT submit multiple nominations for the same person.
You cannot nominate yourself.

For more information regarding the roles and expectations, please consult the bylaws.

To fill out nomination forms please: click here

All nomination forms that have been submitted receive an automatic reply right a ways. If you did not receive an automatic reply, please check your junk folder. Submit again if you did not get an automatic reply. Email inquiries to the Returning Officer below.

Nomination Acceptance
All Members who have been nominated will be sent an email asking if they will allow their name to stand on the ballot and to accept the nomination.

If you have been nominated for a position, please monitor your email including your spam/junk folders during this period. Nominees who do not reply by the deadline will automatically be considered to have declined their nomination.

Resume/Info Sheet
All nominees that accept their nomination will be given the opportunity to provide a one (1) page (standard 8.5x11 size) resume/info sheet which can be posted on our social media pages and website with links sent by email to all Members to view.

Nominees must send their resume/info sheet in PDF format only.

You can start creating your resume/information sheet ASAP.

Please Do Not:

Submit large file resume/info sheets (under 1,000kb only)
Use company logos
Provide any information you don’t want public

Electoral Officer:
The Electoral Officer for this by-election will be Jael Gosselin, WestJet YYC Cabin Crew Member.

Returning Officer:
The Returning Officer for this election will be Christine Weisner, WestJet YYZ Cabin Crew Member.

Respectfully,
Calvin Gautschi
Recording Secretary - CUPE 4070

Calvin Gautschi 2023-06-29 Calvin Gautschi 2023-06-29

Special Membership Meeting (SMM)

Hello WO, WR and WS,

The Executive Board of CUPE Local 4070 is giving notice for a Special Membership Meeting (SMM) as per Section 5(b) of the Bylaws. Please be advised:

DATE: July 4th, 2023

TIME: 0900PT/1000MT/1200ET

LOCATION: Virtually via Microsoft Teams.

SUBJECT TO BE DISCUSSED: To establish a temporary Committee named “The Swoop Integration Advisory Committee” and to approve new Members into Good Standing.

AGENDA:
1. Approving new Members to be Members in Good Standing
2. Approval for the setup of a committee; Swoop Integration Advisory Committee.

Please see complete agenda HERE

SIGN UP HERE: Open to Members in Good Standing and Members who applied to be a Member in Good Standing.

If you are not a Member in Good Standing, as per Bylaws Section 3, and wish to apply, please fill out the application form here by July 3rd, 1200PT/1300MT/1500ET. (If you have not paid the initiation fee, that will be required as well, which is $5)

If you do not know if you are a Member in Good Standing, please contact your Base Vice President here.

**Please note when you log into the meeting, your full name and employee number must be visible. If it is not visible, we do not know who you are and you will not be let into the meeting. **

Please be patient as it can take several minutes to verify and admit everyone into the meeting.

For example, WestJet Members:

WS 29902 Bryan Hansraj

For example, Encore Members:

WR 32168 Adrian Dayrit

For example, Swoop Members:

WO 800278 Sherrie Moore

QUORUM: Your attendance is pivotal to decision making at our local. Quorum is the required number of attendees so that the meeting can take place. Quorum at Local 4070 per the Bylaws, is a minimum of 40 members plus at least two members of the Exectutive Board.

Q & A

Please review the Q & A below. There will be more information shared at the SMM. As well as an opportunity for discussion on the Committee.

Why such short notice for an SMM?

The Union has been advised by the Company that they would like to start the integration as soon as late July or early August. This means contractual details need to settled in an expeditious manner.

Additionally, the Bylaws share that the local needs to give the membership 24 hours notice of an SMM. We are getting this out to the Members ASAP to allow for more notice. We remain committed to sharing details as soon as they become available, so we have been working around the clock to sort out what the Company's plans are and working to determine the best course of action on behalf of the impacted groups.

Can we discuss other things on the agenda?

A Special Membership Meeting (SMM) can only discuss what is on the agenda as per the Bylaws. There can be no other new business added. if you would like to have a broader discussion, please attend the Townhall meeting scheduled for the next day (July 5th). Please sign up here.
(Questions can be submitted in that link as well, to be answered during the Townhall)

What is the role of the “Advisory Committee”?

The Executive Board is committed to having the Memberships consultation on this matter as this is a significant moment in history for our WO Membership, the closing of Swoop. The Committee's scope will be to advise the Executive Board on matters related to their integration into WS.
Ex. vacation remaining, sick days, rates of pay, and other important rights afforded to them under the WO Collective Agreement.

Will this Advisory Committee deal with the issue of seniority?

No. The issue of seniority is a much larger conversation that is not decided by one Unit. The Union is working on the matter of seniority and will advise the Membership of its next steps once we have established what our plan of action on this matter is. We recognize and understand the importance of seniority to all groups and are committed to giving the subject matter the attention it deserves as a stand-alone item.

What happens if we don’t establish quorum?

If we do not establish quorum, the Local will then move to an appointment process of the Advisory Committee, as this committee is essential to ensure our WO Members’ voice is included in the process of their integration into WS.

The Board firmly believes WO’s input is essential when integrating and believes the WO Membership should be able to vote on who represents their interests. However, if we are unable to establish this at an SMM, the President can stand up a committee and appoint. This is supported the language in CUPE National Constitution B.3.1.

In a continued effort to engage our WO Members input, we will email our WO Members advising them of an opportunity to participate in the Committee. The Members may then fill out an expression of interest and the appointment will be done by a randomized draw process. More details to follow. It is our preference to go the election route rather than appointment.

On behalf of your Local 4070 Executives:

CUPE 4070 President, Alia Hussain
CUPE 4070 Vice President, Tyson Conrod
CUPE 4070 Recording Secretary, Calvin Gautschi
CUPE 4070 Secretary-Treasurer, Alex Grigoriev

Swoop Base VP, Sherrie Moore
WestJet Encore YYC Base VP, Adrian Dayrit
WestJet YEG/YVR Base VP, Chris Brewer
WestJet YYC Base VP, Brandy Whitby
WestJet YYZ Base VP, Bryan Hansraj

Calvin Gautschi 2023-06-22 Calvin Gautschi 2023-06-22

Unpaid Work Won’t Fly

Calvin Gautschi 2023-06-21 Calvin Gautschi 2023-06-21

Election Results June 21, 2023

Good day Members,

Below you will find the election results. Thank you to everyone one who participated.

ELECTED POSITONS:

1x CUPE 4070 Vice President 1325 (43.4%)
Tyson Conrod - READ MORE 613 (46.3%)
Colleen Tracey - READ MORE 459 (34.6%)
Meghan Gulliver - READ MORE 253 (19.1%)Electoral Officer:
The Electoral Officer for this by-election will be Jael Gosselin, WestJet YYC Base Cabin Crew Member.

Returning Officer:
The Returning Officer for this election will be Jay Heethuis-Dubois, WestJet YYC Cabin Crew Member.Respectfully,
Calvin Gautschi
Recording Secretary - CUPE 4070

Calvin Gautschi 2023-06-20 Calvin Gautschi 2023-06-20

Message from the President

Dear Members,

I am writing to address an important matter that affects our union and members directly. As you are already aware, the bargaining negotiations with the Pilot group resulted in the integration/mergers of two of our own units. This is in addition to the recently announced merger with Sunwing, following the purchase of that airline by WestJet. These announcements will result in significant changes in our industry's landscape. Mergers in our industry are common. Simultaneous mergers on the other hand, are not common and so it is essential for us to closely examine the terms of each merger, scrutinize the legalities involved, and advocate for the preservation of your collective agreement rights!

While these mergers appear as identical process, it is crucial to recognize that there are differences in the context and jurisdiction of each merger. These disparities can have far-reaching consequences on our collective agreement rights if we do not take the time to fully explore the implications. Our duty, as your representatives, is to safeguard and uphold your rights.

Naturally, these changes have created uncertainty and anxiety for all members. However, I want to emphasize the detrimental effects of misinformation and speculation during times of uncertainty. In situations like these, misinformation can spread rapidly, leading to unnecessary confusion and anxiety among our members. It is important to remember that rumors and hearsay can often be misleading and inaccurate. Therefore, I urge each and every one of you to rely solely on official union communications for accurate information regarding the mergers and their implications.

As your union President, I want to assure you that we are actively examining the terms of each merger, scrutinizing the legalities involved, advocating for the preservation of your collective agreement rights, and engaging in discussions with the employer. Our primary goal is to protect the interests and well-being of our members during this transitional period. We are committed to advocating for your rights, preserving job security, and ensuring fair working conditions.

Throughout this process, transparency and open communication will remain a top priority for us. We will provide updates on the progress of negotiations, any significant developments, and any potential changes that may affect our members. Please remember to trust only official union communications and disregard any unfounded rumors or speculations that may circulate.

We encourage you to participate actively, share your thoughts, and raise any issues that you believe require our attention. Your input and engagement are invaluable as we navigate through these challenging times together. Please use the contact form on the website to share feedback with your Locals Executive Team.

With your continued support and solidarity, we will overcome the obstacles that may arise from these mergers. Our collective agreement rights are non-negotiable, and we will fight to ensure they are upheld throughout this process.

Thank you for your trust in our union. With your support, we will emerge from this period stronger and more resilient than ever before.

Respectfully,

Alia Hussain
Local 4070 - President.

Your CUPE 4070 Executive Team
CUPE 4070 President, Alia Hussain
CUPE 4070 Vice-President, Charles Brochu
CUPE 4070 Secretary-Treasurer, Alex Grigoriev
CUPE 4070 Recording Secretary, Calvin Gautschi
WestJet YEG/YVR Base VP, Chris Brewer
WestJet YYC Base VP, Brandy Whitby
WestJet YYZ Base VP, Bryan Hansraj
WestJet Encore YYC Base VP, Adrian Dayrit
WestJet Encore YYZ Base VP, Vacant
Swoop Base VP, Sherrie Moore

Calvin Gautschi 2023-06-16 Calvin Gautschi 2023-06-16

AOC (Airline Operating Certificate) Integration

Dear Members,

Over the past week, we have heard several announcements from the Employer.

Swoop Integration into WestJet
One AOC (Airline Operating Certificate)-Sunwing/Swoop/WestJet
Winnipeg Base Opening

Due to the first two announcements, this triggered several meetings with the employer, and we are working to establish the next steps.

We want to acknowledge at the outset that this is an extremely complex situation in which our Local has never found itself before. We continue to consult with our National Representatives and the Legal Team at CUPE to get a broader understanding of this undertaking and its implications/impacts and legalities.

We must carefully look at each Collective Agreement, the Canadian Labor Code (CLC) and any previous precedents in similar cases that have occurred to ensure we are doing our due diligence.

We recognize and acknowledge the stress some of this information is causing for our Members across each Unit. At this stage there are too many unknowns for the Union to meaningfully communicate more specific details with our Members . We want to assure the Membership that your Executive Team is committed to providing you with as many details as possible and to share information once it becomes available.

Calvin Gautschi 2023-06-14 Calvin Gautschi 2023-06-14

Elections June 2023 - Voting Package CUPE 4070 Vice President

Good day Members,

Below is the vote information for the CUPE 4070 Vice President role. The voting link will be sent out on June 15th to eligible voters only.

ELECTION REQUIRED:

1x CUPE 4070 Vice President
Colleen Tracey - READ MORE
Meghan Gulliver - READ MORE
Tyson Conrod - READ MORE

Voting is open to Members in Good Standing only.

If you wish to become a Member in Good Standing, please sign a card and pay the $5 Membership fee (if you haven't already), this will begin the process and is completed at the next General Membership Meeting (GMM). SIGN A CARD HERE

Your secure voting link will arrive via email from: vote@simplyvoting.com.

If you do not find your voting link in your email, please check your spam/junk folder.

If you are still unable to find the link, please email us here.

Please include your full name, airline unit and employee number in the email.

Voting Start:
June 15, 2023 at 03:00PT / 04:00MT / 06:00ET
Voting End:
June 21, 2023 at 15:00PT / 16:00MT / 18:00ET

Electoral Officer:
The Electoral Officer for this election will be Jael Gosselin, WestJet YYC Cabin Crew Member.

Returning Officer:
The Returning Officer for this election will be Jay Heethuis-Dubois, WestJet YYC Cabin Crew Member.

Respectfully,
Calvin Gautschi
Recording Secretary - CUPE 4070

Calvin Gautschi 2023-06-09 Calvin Gautschi 2023-06-09

Swoop Integration

Dear 4070 Members,

With the news today of the ratification of the WestJet & Swoop Pilots' Collective Agreement, the Company has stated that Swoop will be integrated into WestJet 's operations in under 5 months – October 28, 2023 - with movements occurring as soon as September 30th. In the communication they also confirmed that all Swoop Employees will stay with the Group, as part of WestJet, in pursuit of the long-term growth strategy.

Since the news broke this morning, we have had many members reach out concerned about the impact this will have on our Membership. We have language negotiated that contemplates some of scenarios we face, however all variables are not known at this time.

What we do know, is that this is important to all our Members at 4070, and we will be expecting the Company to share integration information with the Union in a timely manner. We have meetings, set to begin on Monday, to start working through the pieces. Once we have that information, we will be communicating that out to the entire Membership.

One thing is for certain, we are reassured to hear that there is a commitment from WestJet to ensure there is no job loss. Please read the communications that the Company has released so far.

Calvin Gautschi 2023-06-07 Calvin Gautschi 2023-06-07

Sign the Petition to End Unpaid Work

Calvin Gautschi 2023-06-05 Calvin Gautschi 2023-06-05

Election Results June 5, 2023

Good day Members,

Below you will find the election results. Thank you to everyone one who participated.

ELECTED POSITONS:

1x WS YYC Grievance Committee 490 (38.4%)
Lisa Blayney - READ MORE 360 (73.5%)
Kirsten Brown - READ MORE 130 (36.5%)

Electoral Officer:
The Electoral Officer for this by-election will be Jael Gosselin, WestJet YYC Base Cabin Crew Member.

Returning Officer:
The Returning Officer for this election will be Jay Heethuis-Dubois, WestJet YYC Cabin Crew Member.

Respectfully,
Calvin Gautschi
Recording Secretary - CUPE 4070

Calvin Gautschi 2023-06-03 Calvin Gautschi 2023-06-03

WR Engine Fire and Emergency Landing

Dear Members

We have received several requests for information as well as concerns about events that took place on May 31, 2023, with our WestJet Encore group. We have met with WestJet Encore leadership and would like to share the following:

On Wednesday, May 31 WestJet Encore Flight 9820 was travelling from Calgary to Fort Chipewyan to support the community’s wildfire evacuation efforts, when it experienced an engine compressor stall after take-off. WestJet Encore has shared that this resulted in the Flight Crew performing an engine shut down due to an engine fire indication. The crew followed all standard safety procedures, extinguished the fire, and landed safely in YYC. As this was an aircraft positioning flight to Fort Chipewyan, there were no guests on board.

The Leadership at WestJet Encore has advised the Union as a preliminary measure, they have removed several aircraft from the network to undergo further inspection and this will not have an impact on the operations.

We would like to acknowledge our members' concerns as this is the second of two incidents that appear similar in nature. WestJet Encore Leadership has committed to keep both Local 4070 Executive Team and the WestJet Encore Occupational Health and Safety committee updated as this is investigated fully by the Transportation Safety Board.

We would also like to recognize the professionalism and courage both crews displayed under the circumstances.

Please be assured we will continue to actively pursue information and ensure our membership receives the support and information it deserves. We will continue to assert our position, demanding information from the Employer regarding the critical matters of concern to our members.

We are committed to keeping our Membership informed. We will share information as it becomes available.

Calvin Gautschi 2023-05-31 Calvin Gautschi 2023-05-31

Happy International Flight Attendant Day from CUPE's Airline Division

Calvin Gautschi 2023-05-31 Calvin Gautschi 2023-05-31

CUPE Vice President Election

Good day Members,

We are running an election for CUPE 4070 Vice President.

The following is an outline for this Election:
Nominations Open:
May 31, 2023 at 03:00PT / 04:00MT / 06:00ET
Nominations Close:
June 6, 2023 at 14:00PT / 15:00MT / 17:00ET
Nomination Acceptance Due:
June 12, 2023 at 14:00PT / 15:00MT / 17:00ET
Resume/Info Sheet Due:
June 12, 2023 at 14:00PT / 15:00MT / 17:00ET
First Round Election Start:
June 15, 2023 at 03:00PT / 04:00MT / 06:00ET
First Round Election End:
June 21, 2023 at 15:00PT / 16:00MT / 18:00ET

Only Members in Good Standing can be nominated and can participate in the voting process.
If you are not a Member in Good Standing, to begin the process, click here.
After all steps are completed, the final step is finished at the next GMM, which occurs every May and November.
If you are unsure if you are a Member in Good Standing, inquire here.

Notes:

The nominator must discuss the nomination with the nominee and both must be Members In Good Standing.
DO NOT submit multiple nominations for the same person.
You cannot nominate yourself.

For more information regarding the roles and expectations, please consult the bylaws.

To fill out nomination forms please: click here

All nomination forms that have been submitted receive an automatic reply right a ways. If you did not receive an automatic reply, please check your junk folder. Submit again if you did not get an automatic reply. Email inquiries to the Returning Officer below.

Nomination Acceptance
All Members who have been nominated will be sent an email asking if they will allow their name to stand on the ballot and to accept the nomination.

If you have been nominated for a position, please monitor your email including your spam/junk folders during this period. Nominees who do not reply by the deadline will automatically be considered to have declined their nomination.

Resume/Info Sheet
All nominees that accept their nomination will be given the opportunity to provide a one (1) page (standard 8.5x11 size) resume/info sheet which can be posted on our social media pages and website with links sent by email to all Members to view.

Nominees must send their resume/info sheet in PDF format only.

You can start creating your resume/information sheet ASAP.

Please Do Not:

Submit large file resume/info sheets (under 1,000kb only)
Use company logos
Provide any information you don’t want public

Electoral Officer:
The Electoral Officer for this by-election will be Jael Gosselin, WestJet YYC Cabin Crew Member.

Returning Officer:
The Returning Officer for this election will be Jay Heethuis-Dubois, WestJet YYC Cabin Crew Member.

Respectfully,
Calvin Gautschi
Recording Secretary - CUPE 4070

Calvin Gautschi 2023-05-31 Calvin Gautschi 2023-05-31

International Flight Attendant Day

Happy International Flight Attendant Day to All Our Swoop, WestJet Encore and WestJet Members!

We are most known for our compassionate and caring ability to recognize the needs of the guest in our care even when they do not know themselves. Whether it is offering to hold a baby for a parent who needs to use the bathroom, bringing a warm towel and cup to a crying toddler on descent, listening to a passenger’s story of frustration in getting through security or just offering a warm smile during boarding.

While our mastery of professionalism, courtesy and excellent customer service is visible to our passengers, our constant attention and preparedness to safety might be overlooked by the casual observer. Primarily, we are Safety Professionals and, as such, are always ready to jump in during a crisis whether it is a medical emergency on board, smoke in the cabin, or an unruly passenger.

On this day, we ask that we take a moment and appreciate yourself and your fellow Cabin Crew Members for all the challenging work we do every day, all day.

Today we also ask each of us to make a special effort to Thank your fellow Cabin Crew Members. Let them know you appreciate them.

Find something you can do to recognize your work-family. A nice gesture, an act of kindness, paying it forward to one another throughout this day.

Capture the moment and share them. Tag us and use the Hashtag# to share on social media.

#cupe4070

#flightattendantday

#unpaidworkwontfly

Thank you, to each and every one of you, from your Executive Team.

Calvin Gautschi 2023-05-30 Calvin Gautschi 2023-05-30

Newsletter - June 2023

Topics in this Newsletter:
President's Updates
Vice President's Update
June Acknowledgments
How Do Grievances Work
Commuter Committee Update
CUPE 4070 Website
Save the Dates
Galley Gossip

President's Update

Dear Members,

A quick update:

Informal Coalition of Unions of WestJet AP

As a result of several WestJet AP employee groups unionizing, we have put together an informal meeting that we attend monthly to collaborate and discuss similar issues within our groups. We are currently meeting with the Pilots, AMEs & skilled trades, CSAs, and Dispatch. A recent example of collaboration between us was during the Pilots Strike. We met and fanned out information so that it could be consistently shared with all groups in a timely manner.

Preparing for our Future. CA2-2025

As we get closer to bargaining 2025 for CA-2, we aim to begin a broader conversation about negotiations and work on education pieces for our Members regarding the bargaining process. Stay tuned for more. #beready2025 #ourturn2025

Town Hall July 5th

We will be hosting an informal Townhall again as part of our ongoing commitment for communications with our Members. Sign up is further down in this email. We will follow the same process as previously, where we will request questions be submitted in advance. Once we have covered those we will leave some time for questions to be asked live! Our commitment is to do this every quarter. Open to all Members.

Vice President Election

We will be having a by-election for the role of Vice President CUPE 4070. I would encourage potential candidates to contact an Officer of the Union to explore the role, expectations and responsibilities and to review the applicable bylaws. This role is critical to the heart of what we do as a Union. The Vice President is responsible for all Units' Stewards and all grievances and arbitrations. At this stage in our history there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes to create infrastructure, processes to create consistency, and support to ensure all Officers engaged in this are set up for success. If this sounds like something that would interest you please reach out and inquire further.

ALPA TA Townhalls/Ratification Vote

The Pilots TA is up for a vote in the very near future. We have begun to look at some of the more pressing issues from within the document and are awaiting ratification to commit to a deeper dive into the material presented.

Policy Development

As communicated previously, we have been working on building on repeatable processes and developing general infrastructure for the Union. The need for these documents to be developed was a top priority of the Board. Some of the policies or processes are noted below. By documenting our current practices and building on them based on our learning as we grow as a Union, will allow for smoother transitions and a value add for our Membership.

Electoral Officer
Returning Officer
Privacy Policy
Laptop Policy
Appeal Board Process
Grievance Process
Transition Process
Transition Policy

One Year Anniversary
On May 16th I celebrated my one year anniversary of being elected to our Union- this would also be the morning I received the phone call from ALPA advising me they had issued the strike notice. To say the least that was a very unique way for me to mark one year.

I would like to thank the membership for your trust and for the opportunity to lead our group during such a dynamic time in our history. I have dedicated my time to learning. The Board and I remain committed to communicating, engaging, and advocating on behalf our members.

Alia Hussain
CUPE 4070 President

Vice President's Update

It is with heavy heart that I announce my resignation from my role as Vice-President of our Local 4070 for personal reasons. I intend to stay until the end of June, to ensure a proper transition.

I was elected this January and although my stay was short, I know that our Membership benefited from my involvement. I believe that I will be leaving my position in a better and more organized place for my Successor, who will take over the overall management of all grievances in our three units.

The Local will continue to have my support as a Member, I wish them the best in representing our three Units: Swoop, WestJet Encore, and WestJet. It has been an honour to represent our Cabin Crew Members.

There will be an election to fill my role in the coming days.

Charles Brochu

CUPE 4070 Vice President

June Acknowledgments

Juneteenth

Juneteenth is on June 19th each year. This day commemorates African American freedom and an end to slavery. This day is becoming more recognized in Canada and around the world, not just in the USA.
Canada, has officially recognized August 1rst as Emancipation Day.

Please visit www.juneteenth.com for some history of this day.

Pride Month

June is pride month around the world. 2SLGBTQI+ and allies come together to celebrate and to bring awareness.

Just in the past couple days Uganda's President signed one of the world's harshest laws against the community. Which includes the death penalty.

The fight to be allowed to live, to be safe from any type of harm is still prevalent in the world today for the 2SLGBTQI+ community. We still see violence against the community in Canada. Just in June 2020, the USA Supreme court ruled you cannot fire someone for being 2SLGBTQI+, with some loopholes though. We see our neighbours to the south in constant battle of retracting 2SLGBTQI+ rights and laws, with the threat of some starting in Canada. The battle being never ending, progressing and regressing.

Please stand up and speak out for what is right for all groups, be the support we all need for each other.

How Do Grievances Work

A grievance is a violation of the Collective Agreement or an applicable article, act, policy legislation or intent. (ex.Human Rights Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act, Labour Relations Act, Canadian Labour Code-CLC)

A grievance is a mechanism that is unique to labour law. It is built into a Collective Agreement. It is the way that one party enforces its rights under the Agreement, if the other party doesn’t do what it is supposed to do.

1. If you have a grievance, your first step is to have an informal discussion with your direct leader. If necessary, CC your Union on the email or advise them via an email if it was a phone call or an in person discussion. (**exception for WR & WS if it is a monthly scheduling dispute, please follow that process and fill out that form**).

2. If it is not resolved by your direct Leader, your Base VP will review with you the alleged violation to determine the merits, and discuss if it will proceed to a step 1 grievance.

3. If it went to a step 1 grievance and was not resolved, your Base VP will inform you and discuss if it will proceed to a step 2 grievance.

4. If it went to a step 2 grievance and was not resolved, the grievance will then by heard by the Grievance Committee. The Base VP will present the file to the Grievance Committee and based on the facts of the case, a decision will be made at this third phase to either proceed to Arbitration or to withdraw the grievance. The decision is based on several merits.

5. If the grievance is referred to arbitration, CUPE 4070 Vice President (the Lead Steward) will work with the National CUPE Representative and the Legal Team of CUPE. The path to arbitration is not linear. A resolution can be achieved with the Company prior to reaching arbitration. Mediation can also occur, where both parties can have more control on the resolution prior to reaching arbitration. When a grievance reaches arbitration, all the facts are presented to the Arbitrator and their decision is binding.

6. If a decision to proceed or withdraw a grievance is opposed by the Grievor, the Grievor has the opportunity to appeal the decision to the Appeals Board.

At all times, the grievance carriage rights is carried by the Local, not the Grievor. The Executive Board has authority over all grievances.

Commuter Committee Update

Commuter Committee Update -No Update

If you are unable to make your report time due to commuting, please familiarize yourself with WR & WS Collective Agreement article 38-2.01.

To contact the Commuter Committee, use the contact page on the website or email them at commuting@cupe4070.ca

WR - Sarah Lowe
WS YVR - Corie Ives
WS YYC - David Orsi-Nault
WS YYZ - Sonia Ouellette

CUPE 4070 Website

We have been working on the website to organize and create an easier flow to get you to what you need.

The Local is also working on creating a calendar of special dates to be recognized. We try our best, but we do not know all the dates there are. We want to be diligent to ensure none are missed. If we miss any please let us know so we can recognize it going forward. We ask for your help to submit any special dates via the Special Date Form.

Under the Resources page on the website, you can view courses you can take for free. Please check them out here.

Please take a look through the ongoing redesigning of the website.

Save the Dates

Townhall - Informal
July 5th, 2023 1100PT/1200MT/1400ET - Sign Up Here

Open to all Members of CUPE 4070

Questions you submit will be answered during the townhall. Submit them here.

General Membership Meeting (GMM)
November 8, 2023 1100PT/1200MT/1400ET - Sign Up Here

Open only to Members in Good Standing

**DO NOT USE YOUR WORK EMAIL ADDRESS**

May 2023 GMM video recording and meeting minutes is on our website, after you have logged in, you can click here for quick access.

Galley Gossip

(Visit the Galley Gossip Wall on our website to see previous submissions and answers)

Galley Gossip: Why are pilots allowed to wear their uniform during picketing and Cabin Crews were discouraged to do so?

Answer: The Pilots were bargaining and therefor it was permitted. Under the law there are different rules that apply to a union actively engaged in collective bargaining. Our contract was in full force and effect therefore we were required to adhere to all policy and standards. #ourturn2025

Galley Gossip: I heard that pilots are asking as part of bargaining to be able to fly standby to commute before all other employees.. they are also trying to get air Canada pilots to get on flights standby before employees that commute.. is this true and if so why is nothing being mentioned about it. I heard this from 2 pilots. If true is the union looking into this for flight attendants as commuters

Answer: During bargaining, all information is confidential. CUPE 4070 was not advised of any details prior to the release of the TA. Leaking details can be a considered a sign of bad faith bargaining. Standby travel is governed by the corporate policy. Pilots in uniform currently have priority for their respective flight deck jump seats as per their current agreement. We have reviewed their TA and have not seen any language that would indicate they get an overall higher priority coding for STBY travel.

Please also view your CA 19-1.02:
At no time will Flight Attendants/Cabin Personnel/Cabin Crew Members receive lesser travel privileges than any other employee group pursuant to the Company’s Travel Privileges Policy and/or Retirement Policy

Calvin Gautschi 2023-05-29 Calvin Gautschi 2023-05-29

Elections May 2023 - Voting Package

Good day Members,

Below is the information for voting as well as acclaimed positions that do not require a vote. The voting link will be sent out on May 30th to eligible voters only.

ELECTION REQUIRED:

1x WS YYC Grievance Committee
Kirsten Brown - READ MORE
Lisa Blayney - READ MORE

ACCLAIMED POSITONS – ELECTION NOT REQUIRED:

1x WS YVR Communications Committee
Jean Philippe Girard

1x WO Education Committee
Muhammad Ikram - READ MORE

1x WS YYZ Health and Safety
Danielle Bernier - READ MORE

1x WR Hotel & Transportation Committee
David Rubenfeld - READ MORE

1x WS YYC Commuter Committee
Davide Orsi-Nault

1x WO YEG Stewards
Candace Boysen

1x WO YHM/YYZ Stewards
Ashlee Cuthbertson

REMAINING VACANT ROLES:

WR YYZ Base VP x1

Communications Committee:
1x WO
1x WS YYZ

Grievance Committee:
1x WO
1x WR
1x WS YVR
1x WS YYZ

Education Committee:
1x WR

Women's Committee:
1x WR
1x WS

Committee Against Racism and Discrimination (CARD):
1x WO
1x WR

Health and Safety:
2x WR YYZ
2x WS YEG
1x WS YVR

Uniform Committee:
1x WO
1x WR
1x WS YVR
1x WS YYZ

Scheduling Review Committee:
1x WR YYC
1x WR YYZ

Return to Work Accommodations Committee:
1x WR

Bylaw Review Committee:
1x WO
1x WR YYC
1x WR YYZ
1x WS YVR
1x WS YYC
1x WS YYZ

Union Stewards:
2x WO YEG
7x WR YYC
10x WR YYZ
7x WS YVR
8x WS YYZ

Voting is open to Members in Good Standing only.

NOTE: Some votes are open to all Members in Good Standing, others are unit specific or unit and base specific Members in Good Standing.

If you wish to become a Member in Good Standing, please sign a card and pay the $5 Membership fee (if you haven't already), this will begin the process and is completed as the next General Membership Meeting (GMM). SIGN A CARD HERE

Your secure voting link will arrive via email from: vote@simplyvoting.com.

If you do not find your voting link in your email, please check your spam/junk folder.

If you are still unable to find the link, please email us here.

Please include your full name, airline unit and employee number in the email.

First Round Election Start:
May 30, 2023 at 03:00PT / 04:00MT / 06:00ET
First Round Election End:
June 5, 2023 at 15:00PT / 16:00MT / 18:00ET

Respectfully,
Calvin Gautschi
Recording Secretary - CUPE 4070

Calvin Gautschi 2023-05-26 Calvin Gautschi 2023-05-26

SWOOP & WESTJET PILOT'S TENTATIVE AGREEMENT

Dear Members,

As most of you may be aware by now, ALPA Pilots have negotiated a Tentative Agreement. This Tentative Agreement was released this morning to their membership. ALPA has shared the Tentative Agreement and details with the Local. We are reviewing the matter and will be meeting internally to discuss our next steps.

It is important to note this is a Tentative Agreement and therefore NOT FINAL and NOT IN EFFECT.

ALPA has planned several Roadshows over the next 7 days across WestJet and Swoop bases. Once the Roadshows are complete, they will open this up to their Members for a ratification vote.

We share this information today as there are several pieces of the Tentative Agreement that have an impact on our Membership. Particularly the language on the integration of Swoop into WestJet.

We must wait until their Collective Agreement is ratified to begin work on what this means for our respective groups. We met with the Company, and they confirmed they are committed to meeting with the Union and working through the various Articles that have an impact on our groups.

We recognize that this knowledge brings uncertainty. Swoop has communicated it plans to fly its published schedule, work with the Union, and support its Employees.

For our Swoop Members please see the communication Swoop released for details on the Townhall and to submit questions to the Company.

WestJet Members, please monitor Company Email for any updates on this matter.

The Union has not been provided with any other information.

If you have questions, please contact your Inflight Leadership or your respective Base Vice President for any specific questions you may have.

Please be assured we will continue to actively pursue specific information to ensure our Membership receives the support it deserves. The Union will continue to assert our position and request for information from the Employer regarding the critical matters of concern to our Members.

We are committed to keeping you, our Membership, informed by providing you with updates as soon as they are made available.

Your CUPE 4070 Executive Team
President, Alia Hussain
Vice-President, Charles Brochu
Secretary-Treasurer, Alex Grigoriev
Recording Secretary, Calvin Gautschi
WestJet YEG/YVR Base VP, Chris Brewer
WestJet YYC Base VP, Brandy Whitby
WestJet YYZ Base VP, Bryan Hansraj
WestJet Encore YYC Base VP, Adrian Dayrit
WestJet Encore YYZ Base VP, Vacant
Swoop Base VP, Sherrie Moore

Calvin Gautschi 2023-05-19 Calvin Gautschi 2023-05-19

One Chapter Ends Another Begins

Dear Members,

Your CUPE Local 4070 Executive want to express our deepest gratitude and heartfelt appreciation for the unwavering support and remarkable solidarity you have shown to the pilots in our organization. As we embark on our very own journey towards securing fair treatment and just compensation, your steadfast dedication has not gone unnoticed.

Over the last few weeks, you have had a front-row seat to witness the lengths to which employers are willing to go in their attempt to undermine rights and diminish the contributions of front-line workers. Your solidarity for the pilots has served as a powerful reminder of the challenges we face when we approach the bargaining table. And a clear signal that we must stand united, unyielding in our determination, and get prepared to fight for our rights.

Your resilience, courage, and unity have inspired not only the pilots but the entire labor movement. Your support has fostered a sense of solidarity that will serve as a bedrock for our fight to achieve fair treatment, improved working conditions, and the recognition that we have earned and deserve.

We would be remiss if we did not extend our thanks to the Airline Division of CUPE, CUPE National, and the broader labor movement. Their support has been invaluable and will provide us with the strength and resources necessary to overcome the challenges that lie ahead. Together, we form a formidable force, ready, no matter the obstacles that stand in our way. Our collective power is immeasurable, and with your unwavering support, we are confident that we can achieve lasting change.

Once again, we extend our deepest gratitude to each of you, for your unwavering support, solidarity, and dedication. Together, we will reshape the airline industry into one that values and respects all of its professionals. Our journey may be arduous, and probably with a little turbulence along the way, but the destination will be one of fairness, dignity, and a brighter future for us all.

With heartfelt appreciation and solidarity,

Alia Hussain, President, Local 4070
On behalf of your Union Executive

#2025BeReady
#2025OurTurn