BREAKING NEWS: WestJet Encore & CUPE Reach Tentative Agreement

Dear Members,


After a lengthy negotiation process that started in November 2019 and extended due to the pandemic, CUPE Local 4070 and WestJet Encore have reached a Tentative Agreement (TA) yesterday. The WestJet Encore CUPE 4070 Bargaining Committee, along with our two CUPE National Bargaining representatives have been working tirelessly throughout the last few months to conclude negotiations for this monumental first ever Collective Agreement for WestJet Encore Cabin Crew Members.

A special thank you goes to our WestJet Encore Bargaining Committee for their hard work on this first CUPE agreement for WestJet Encore Cabin Crew Members. CUPE 4070 was formed in July 2018, with WestJet Encore joining in May 2019 and Swoop June 2019, and this milestone should make all Members feel very proud.

More details will be communicated in our upcoming roadshows.

WHAT’S NEXT?
We will be planning virtual roadshows to present this Tentative Agreement to Members and answer your questions. Once the planning for this has been finalized, we will communicate all of the information and dates to you along with a copy of the TA for review.

We need your help! Will you help us?
We are looking for Members that would be interested in attending the upcoming info sessions.

The intent of a mobilizer is to assist the union in sharing information about where and when we will be providing the details of the Collective Agreement and spreading the word through face-to-face interactions.

The info sessions will have been planned for July 21, 22, & 23 - you are able to attend 1 or more session if you are available.

CLICK HERE TO BECOME A MOBILIZER

Website Portal:
We will be posting information and videos on our website. In order to access this information, please take a moment now to ensure you have set-up your access to our Member Portal on our website. Please review this email if you haven’t set-up your access or need to reset your password.

WHO VOTES?
Voting for this Collective Agreement will be conducted by secure online voting sent via email. Voting will be open to all WestJet Encore Members, regardless of having signed a Union card or not. For clarity, this includes all active and inactive/furloughed Members.

I DIDN’T SIGN A UNION CARD
Members that have not signed a Union card, or, do not have an email address on file with the Union are asked to submit one using our online Rand Member Form ASAP.

We will update you as soon as we can. In the meantime, we would like to thank our over 500 WestJet Encore Members for their patience as we worked towards this ground breaking goal. We are excited to be able to present this TA to you for ratification in August.

In Solidarity,
Your CUPE 4070 Executive Team

WestJet Encore Commuter Committee By-Election Vote Results

Dear Members,


Below are the results of the WestJet Encore by-election ending today.

WestJet Encore Commuter Committee By-Election:
Colleen Tracey 62 (52.1%)
Spencer Scerbo 57 (47.9%)

A total of 119 Members voted in this election.

Congratulations Colleen!

Thank you to all Members who took the time to participate in this Nomination and Election process.

For a recap of acclaimed positions, please review this email here.

Clerical Error:
During the voting period, we were made aware of a Member who was nominated that did not receive a confirmation of nomination email. This was investigated and the Member should have been sent one. I called the Member to apologize and to offer a solution. The solution was to re-run the election for this Committee and include her. The Member declined this offer. I would like to once again apologize to the Member from WestJet YYC. This was a regrettable situation that we endeavor to avoid in the future.




In Solidarity,
Marco Di Virgilio, Recording Secretary & Returning Officer - CUPE 4070

WestJet Encore By-Election Update & Voting Package

Dear Members,


I would like to provide you with an update on the by-election.

The following is a breakdown of the positions that were up for nomination, the nominees and their resume/info sheet (if submitted) and the Committee's current status:

Scheduling Review Committee – 1 any base:
VACANT

Uniform Committee – 1 (any base) – Acclaimed / No election:
Kalliopi (Kelly) Tasopoulou – READ MORE
 
Health & Safety Committee – 1x YYZ base only – Acclaimed / No election:
Spencer Scerbo – READ MORE
 
Union Steward – 2x YYC base / 8x YYZ base:
 
YYC:
VACANT
 
YYZ: – Acclaimed / No election:
Hamdi Mahamud
Christina Bucholtz – READ MORE
 
Committee Against Racism and Discrimination (CARD) – 1 (any base) – Acclaimed / No election:
Hamdi Mahamud
 
Commuter Committee – 1 (any base) – Election Required:
Colleen Tracey – READ MORE
Spencer Scerbo – READ MORE
 
Return to Work – 1 (any base):
VACANT
 
Temporary Bylaw Committee – 1 per base – Acclaimed / No election:
 
YYC:
Colleen Tracey – READ MORE
 
YYZ:
VACANT
 
Women's Committee – 1 (any base):
VACANT
 

Congratulations to the Members acclaimed to their Committee!

We will proceed with a Commuter Committee Election at WestJet Encore.

Members In Good Standing (signed card and paid a $5 Membership fee) can vote in this election. If you wish to participate in this election process and have not signed a card, please sign a card and pay the $5 Membership fee on our website at least 24 hours before the election end for processing. 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 locate this link, please email Marco Di Virgilio, Recording Secretary & Returning Officer at: marco.divirgilio@cupe4070.ca. Please include your full name, airline and employee number in the email.

Election:
START: June 28, 2021 @ 03:00 PT / 04:00 MT / 06:00 ET
END: July 4, 2021 @ 15:00 PT / 16:00 MT / 18:00 ET

Electoral Officer:
The Electoral Officer for this election will be Kendra Thibault, WestJet Encore Cabin Crew Member - YYC Base.



In Solidarity,
Marco Di Virgilio, Recording Secretary & Returning Officer - CUPE 4070

WestJet Encore Bargaining Update #7

Dear Members,

WestJet Encore Collective Bargaining again took place from June 8 - 11; and June 22 - 25, 2021, via Zoom between the Union and the Company. The Committee is pleased to report that we have now signed off in Tentative Agreement (TA) of  forty-six (46) of the forty-eight (48) planned Articles. This past week we began negotiations on the final elements that will form the TA towards the first ever Collective Agreement (CA) for WestJet Encore Cabin Crew: Scope language, and the comprehensive monetary package. 

We have now signed off in TA on five (5) Articles, leaving only the comprehensive monetary package and Scope to be agreed to before negotiations are complete.

The five (5) articles, and one (1) LOU (Letter of Understanding)  that were signed in Tentative Agreement are:

• Benefits

• LOU No. 2 - Transition to New Benefits Plan

• Sick and Personal Leave

• Aircraft and Company Assigned Equipment

• Commuting

• Accomodation

To provide the Membership with perspective in terms of where we are at in the Collective Bargaining process:

WestJet Encore (WR)

Overall Bargaining Progress (by Articles completed in TA)
*Accurate as of June 26, 2021

Your WestJet Encore Bargaining Committee spent this past week bargaining the comprehensive monetary and financial package, as well as the Scope language that will form part of the final TA; which defines our Members’ job scope and the degree to which our flying is protected by our Collective Agreement.

We are pleased to inform you that we are getting close to the end of the bargaining process. The Committee and Local 4070 Executive are actively planning the Tentative Agreement rollout and ratification process. As soon as we have a full TA to present to Membership, you will be notified immediately, and we will indicate next steps.

The next round of Bargaining for the WestJet Encore Collective Agreement is scheduled for June 28 - 29, 2021. We will update you again following these negotiations.

Bargaining dates are secured through the summer and into September, should they be needed. It is the hope of the Committee that all of these dates will not be needed, and we are able to bring you a full TA as soon as possible. The final dates over the next four (4) months are:

June 28 - 29, 2021

July 13 - 16, 2021

August 16 - 19, 2021

August 30 - September 2, 2021

September 14 - 16, 2021

September 28 - 30, 2021

Should you have any questions regarding the bargaining process, please contact us at: weare4070@cupe4070.ca.


In Solidarity,
Your CUPE 4070 WestJet Encore Bargaining Committee

Workforce Update (WR) - July 2021 (Copy)

Dear Members,

Below is a summary of recalls that occurred at WestJet Encore (WR) for July 2021. The Union provides this summary in an effort to keep the Membership aware of developments related to levels of active employment at the Company as we continue working towards recovery.

WestJet Encore (WR) Recall - July 2021: 

* We have reached the bottom of the YYC Base DOH List. Future recall notices for YYC will be final recall notices in reverse seniority order. We will advise you when this happens.

WestJet and Swoop Recalls for July 2021:

As always, if you require assistance from your Union, please contact us: www.cupe4070.ca/contact.

In Solidarity,
Your CUPE 4070 Executive Team

WestJet, WestJet Encore & Swoop By-elections

Dear Members,


Nominations for various Committees and Union Steward positions are now open.
 

Please review the following information carefully:

Nominations Open: June 16, 2021 @ 03:00 PT / 04:00 MT / 06:00 ET

Nominations Close: June 22, 2021 @ 15:00 PT / 16:00 MT / 18:00 ET

Members In Good Standing (signed card and paid $5 Membership fee) can nominate other Members In Good Standing at their own airline. If you wish to participate in this nomination and election process and have not signed a card, please sign a card and pay the $5 Membership fee on our website at least 24 hours before the nomination & election end for processing. SIGN A CARD HERE

Vacant Positions:

WestJet

• Scheduling Review Committee – 1 per base

• Uniform Committee – 1 per base

• Health & Safety Committee – 2x YYZ base only*
  *(must be an active employee)

• Union Steward 1x YVR base only

• Committee Against Racism and Discrimination (CARD) – 1 (any base)

• Commuter Committee – 1 per base

• Return to Work – 1 per base

• Temporary Bylaw Committee – 1 per base

• Women's Committee – 1 (any base)

WestJet Encore

• Scheduling Review Committee – 1 (any base)

• Uniform Committee – 1 (any base)

• Health & Safety Committee – 1x YYZ base only*
  *(must be an active employee)

• Union Steward – 2x YYC base / 8x YYZ base

• Committee Against Racism and Discrimination (CARD) – 1 (any base)

• Commuter Committee – 1 (any base)

• Return to Work – 1 (any base)

• Temporary Bylaw Committee – 1 per base

• Women's Committee – 1 (any base)

Swoop

• Scheduling Review Committee – 1 (any base)

• Uniform Committee – 1 (any base)

• Committee Against Racism and Discrimination (CARD) – 1 (any base)

• Return to Work – 1 (any base)

• Temporary Bylaw Committee – 1 (any base)

• Women's Committee – 1 (any base)

 (The nominee and nominator must be from the same base if the vacancy is base specific)

Nomination Forms:

WESTJET

WESTJET ENCORE

SWOOP

All nomination forms must be filled out electronically or printed and scanned and sent by email to: elections@cupe4070.ca by June 22, 2021 @ 15:00 PT / 16:00 MT / 18:00 ET
Please include the position and nominee name in the subject line of your email.
 
NOTES:

• The nominator must discuss the nomination with the nominee and both must be Members In Good Standing (Signed Union card and paid $5 membership fee)

• Only one nomination form is required per nominee for the same position.

• You cannot nominate yourself.

Nomination Confirmation:
On June 23, 2021, all Members who have been nominated will be sent an email from Marco Di Virgilio, Recording Secretary & Returning Officer, asking if they will allow their name to stand on the ballot and accept the nomination. These individuals will have until June 25, 2021 @ 15:00 PT / 16:00 MT / 18:00 ET to accept or decline their nomination.

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

Resume/Information Sheet:
All nominees that accept their nomination will be given the opportunity to provide a one (1) page (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 In Good Standing for review.

Nominees must send their resume/info sheet in PDF format to: elections@cupe4070.ca by June 25, 2021 @ 15:00 PT / 16:00 MT / 18:00 ET. You can start creating your resume/information sheet ASAP.

PLEASE DO NOT

• Submit large file resume/info sheets

• Use company logos

• Provide any information you don’t want public

Elections:
START:  June 28, 2021 @ 03:00 PT / 04:00 MT / 06:00 ET
END:  July 4, 2021 @ 15:00 PT / 16:00 MT / 18:00 ET


Electoral Officer:
The Electoral Officer for this election will be Kendra Thibault, WestJet Encore Cabin Crew Member - YYC Base.



In Solidarity,
Marco Di Virgilio, Recording Secretary & Returning Officer - CUPE 4070

May 2021 GMM Recap

Dear Members,


On May 21, 2021 your Local and its Executive held a General Membership Meeting via Zoom. The full recording of the GMM in its entirety, along with the requested budget and income statements from a Member motion at the meeting, are available on our Local’s website cupe4070.ca. 

If you have not registered for the Member Portal, please find instructions below:

WESTJET

WESTJET ENCORE

SWOOP

Some key moments from the meeting:

• The Board report motions were adopted as well as acceptance of all 196 new Members who had applied for Membership since the previous GMM. It is with great sadness that we lost Aurel Poirier. Forever in our minds and hearts. A moment of silence was observed.

• The Board provided a trial procedure update. There are seven trial complaints, five of which are proceeding to trial. These trials will be panel appointed by CUPE National President Mark Hancock. Chris Rauenbusch and Marco Di Virgilio are respondents on three, two of which include Kruti Sutaria. Two additional complaints are to be investigated. Anticipated date of outcome was to be June 12 or shortly thereafter. Since the GMM this date has been modified to June 28, by CUPE National.

• Implementation of the WestJet Collective Agreement (CA) with WestJet Encore and Swoop to follow once bargaining concludes; expected by end of year for WestJet Encore and Swoop.

• A new implementation of a structured process for committees. The committee vacancies nominations will begin in June 2021.

• The Committees to be filled by the next election are:*

  • Scheduling Review Committee

  • Uniform Committee

  • Health & Safety Committee - YYZ Base vacancy

  • Union Steward vacancies

  • Committee Against Racism and Discrimination (CARD)

  • Commuter Committee

  • Return to Work and Accomodation Committee

  • Temporary Bylaw Committee

  • Women's Committee
    
    (Some Committees may see a reduced workload due to Collective Agreement implementation timelines)

*Note: Any Member in Good Standing with recall rights can run for any position and vote in all elections. Meaning, even if furloughed, a Member can still run for any position and vote. 

**Reminder: You must be nominated for a position to run for a position. Nomination forms will be sent out with election notices

• Board training for grievance handling & parliamentary procedure training. Workshop for virtual meetings. Grievance handling for stewards coming. Exec leadership training.

• Motion adopted for the creation of a new Bylaw Committee:
  To strike a special temporary Bylaw Committee under Section 15 a) Special Committees of the current Bylaws.
  -Following the acceptance of this motion the board shall hold an election to create the committee within 45 calendar days.
  -This committee will dissolve after its first presentation of amendments to Members, and the conclusion of an election of Members to a permanent Bylaw committee.
  -This committee will consist of up to six (6) Members, comprised of one (1) per base from WestJet, one (1) per base from WestJet Encore and one (1) Member from Swoop.
  -The committee shall select a Chair and a Secretary.

• Motion adopted to present the budgets and income statements to the Membership: located in the Member Portal of cupe4070.ca on the General Membership Meetings page.

As always, if you have any questions or require assistance, please contact us: cupe4070.ca/contact.

In Solidarity,
Your CUPE 4070 Executive Team

WestJet Encore Bargaining Update #6

Dear Members,


WestJet Encore Collective Bargaining again took place from May 25 - 27, 2021, via Zoom between the Union and the Company. The Committee is pleased to report that we continue to make very good progress overall, and we remain on track to bring you a Tentative Agreement in 2021, and we remain optimistic that this could occur well before year-end. 

Last week was very productive, signing a total of eleven (11) Articles into Tentative Agreement (TA) between the parties. While most of the TAs required several passes of proposals back-and-forth before tentative agreement could be reached, these exchanges were timely and efficient. There seems to be a tangible desire from both sides to reach a full Tentative Agreement to present to the Membership for ratification as efficiently as possible.

In total eleven (11) articles were signed in Tentative Agreement. They are: 

• Non Bargaining Unit Work

• Travel Privileges

• Relocation

• Classification

• Filling of Vacancies

• Health and Safety

• Layoff and Recall

• Printing of the Agreement

• Legal

• Language Qualifications

• Definitions

To provide the Membership with perspective in terms of where we are at in the Collective Bargaining process:

Following completion of TAs for each of the planned forty-eight (48) articles that will comprise the WestJet Encore proposed Collective Agreement, the final step prior to the conclusion of negotiations will be the bargaining of the all-encompassing monetary and financial package. Essentially, this will be the negotiation of anything throughout all of the tentatively agreed to articles that is related to monetary or financial matters. These articles have been negotiated in principle, with specific dollar or cost amounts that have been left “TBD” or ‘to be determined’. This is common practice in negotiations of first Collective Agreements following union certification. All TBD references will have their specific value negotiated in the final monetary package.

The next round of Bargaining for the WestJet Encore Collective Agreement is scheduled for June 8 - 11, 2021. We will update you again following these negotiations.

Bargaining dates are secured through the summer and into September, should they be needed. Additionally, we have added a total of five (5) more days, by adding single days onto existing blocks of Bargaining. The final dates over the next four (4) months are:

June 8 - 11, 2021

June 21 - 25, 2021

July 13 - 16, 2021

August 16 - 19, 2021

August 30 - September 2, 2021

September 14 - 16, 2021

September 28 - 30, 2021

Should you have any questions regarding the bargaining process, please contact us at: weare4070@cupe4070.ca. 

In Solidarity,
Your CUPE 4070 WestJet Encore Bargaining Committee

Happy International Flight Attendant Day!

Dear Members,

Today is International Flight Attendant Day! It is a day to celebrate all of the amazing work we all do every single day. This year is particularly important to recognize as this last year has been especially challenging. We are immensely proud to represent such a strong group of Members.

For our many Cabin Crew Members who have been working throughout the pandemic, thank you! You have been paramount for getting Canadians home safely, and continuing to get our guests where they need to go across our beautiful country and beyond.

If you are passing through the bases today, please look for your CUPE 4070 Executives and Health and Safety Committee Members from WestJet, WestJet Encore, and Swoop.

To our Members on furlough, we recognize that today’s celebration is not the same without you.  We miss you and we look forward to seeing you in the sky again!

CUPE Airline Division has put together a message for all of our wonderful Cabin Crew Members CLICK HERE.

In Solidarity,
CUPE 4070

Recall Notice – (WR) WestJet Encore Members

Dear Members,

The Union is pleased to again share with you that we have been advised by the Company of ‘recalls’ to active status for July 2021.

Recall will occur based on the Company Service Lists that are published by base – the same lists that were used to determine those who were placed on furlough, and will be completed senior to junior within each base. These lists are available after log-in at www.cupe4070.ca.

This recall will see approximately 60 to 75 CCMs returned to active status:

-  Approximately 40 to 50 CCMs in YYC

-  Approximately 20 to 25 CCMs in YYZ 

In the Memorandum of Agreement agreed to between the Union and the Company, there exist two (2) options for the time-frame of recall and acceptance by the Member. The Company will be executing the ‘Expedited Recall‘ Option 1 as outlined in the MOA (Articles 7 & 8) as the initial method of recall for this recall.

For the Calgary (YYC) base: Following this expedited recall, it is anticipated that the Company will be at the bottom of the base list for recall. The Company will then initiate the full seven (7) day recall option (Articles 9 thru 15 in the MOA). During this recall, it is expected that the Calgary (YYC) base will require Members to accept their recall or they will be deemed to have resigned their employment with the Company, as per Article 12 of the MOA:

“If a Cabin Crew Member is recalled to their affected base, they may decline a notice of recall provided there are more junior Cabin Crew Members at their affected base on the recall list. Once all junior Cabin Crew Members are recalled, the Cabin Crew Member must accept the recall to their affected base or they will be deemed to have resigned their employment with the Company.”


Urgency to respond ‘ACCEPT’ or ‘DECLINE’ to Recall Notices:
As recovery of the industry progresses, recall may approach the lower end of a seniority list in any specific base at any time. When a Member does not respond to a recall notice, that Members’ response defaults to ‘DECLINE’. 

NOTE: It will be clearly indicated in your notice of recall that you must accept to maintain your relationship with the Company. The Union urges Members to read every Notice of Recall received to avoid any issues that may arise from not accepting a future recall. **By not accepting this type of recall your employment would be ended.**

To determine if you are eligible for recall as of July 1, 2021:

1)   Check the personal email account that you have most recently registered with the Company related to your inactive status.

2)   Ensure to check your ‘spam/junk’ folder, just in case.

3)   The Company will provide official recall notice, or contingent recall notice which will be marked in part ‘SHORT NOTICE RECALL’ to that email address.

As indicated, this recall is initially being executed under the ‘Expedited Recall’ and Members eligible for recall will have only 48 HOURS to accept a recall should they desire. The Company has advised the Union that recall notices will go out today.

Ability to decline recall:

As per the MOU executed between WestJet Encore and CUPE Local 4070, if you are senior enough to hold recall and recall is offered to you, you may elect to decline a recall, and await recall in the future should it occur. You may opt to decline any recall until such time as there are no other Members junior to you on your base’s Company Service List, at which time a decline to recall would be the end of your employment.

The Union and the Company continue to work together cooperatively towards the goal of seeing demand and network capacity grow to a point where recalling all Members that have been placed on furlough becomes a reality.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to the Union via our contact link: www.cupe4070.ca/contact.



In Solidarity,
Your CUPE 4070 Executive Team

International Flight Attendant Day

Dear Members,

International Flight Attendant day is on Monday, May 31.  To celebrate, your CUPE 4070 Occupational Health and Safety Committees and your CUPE 4070 Executive, will be out in the bases May 31st, 2021. We want to thank our crews not only for all your hard work during this difficult year, but also for your continued commitment to keeping yourselves, your colleagues, and our guests safe. 

If you are checking in for a pairing or checking out from a pairing, on Monday May 31st, stop by one of the CUPE offices in your respective base.

YVR CUPE Office is located on the Ground Transportation level, the level below Domestic Arrivals.  From the escalator on Ground Transportation level: Turn right and walk down the hallway past the medical clinic towards Pass Control. Walk past Pass Control and through the double doors.  To the left of the elevators is a hallway, walk straight down (not the hallway marked YVR IT Training Centre) and we are the first door on the left, office B1101.5.

YEG elected representatives will be looking out for you at the airport!
YYC CUPE Office is located on the arrivals level, behind baggage carousal 7
YYZ CUPE Office is located Arrivals T3 next to out of town and Sunwing offices
YHM elected representatives will be looking out for you at the airport!

Our goal is to reach as many Cabin Personnel as possible - we look forward to seeing familiar faces on Monday.

If we miss you Monday, we encourage crews to submit a crew “maskie” (selfie wearing a mask) using the hashtag #internationalflightattendantday, tag @cupe4070 and post to Instagram.

Let’s recognize our incredible colleagues after one of the most difficult years in aviation history.    

In Solidarity,
Your CUPE 4070 Health and Safety Committees | WestJet, WestJet Encore, and Swoop

Education Committee Update

Dear Members,


Many of you have inquired about language courses as well as scholarships/bursaries. Although the scholarships/bursaries have yet to be brought forward and voted on at our General Membership Meeting May 21, 2021, we are pleased to offer some options pertaining to education and language courses offered through many different mediums. We have researched a few options for you, please note these options are not limited to what is presented by your Education Committee on behalf of your CUPE 4070 Executive:

Public Libraries offer Rosetta Stone, Mango Languages, Pronunciator Language Learning, and a variety of language learning options. Check with your local public library for details.

Many Universities offer Language Courses  through Continuing Education and Faculty of Extension programs, many of which are being offered online. Course costs are reflected below (these costs may vary depending on the institution):

Absolute beginners French: $145

French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish Level 1-3: $395 per level

Sign Language: $395


Language Apps:

Babbel: 

1 year subscription: $9.99/month

6 month subscription: $12.99/month

3 month subscription: $14.99/month

*They currently offer a 50% discount on 1 year subscriptions and 35% discount on 6 and 3 month subscriptions.
 

Rosetta Stone:

Lifetime unlimited membership: $179

With Live: $299 (this includes live conversations with real people of language you are learning)

Additional Learning Resources: 

CUPE offers courses to the membership as well, please have a look at what is available through CUPE Union Education. The following workshops are scheduled for May and June:

* Times are local in the province the virtual workshop is being held, please be sure to check the timezone when registering.

May

May 27 - 11:00am-2:00pm - Sexual Harassment Webinar: Resources and Law for Unions and Workers l Canadian Union of Public Employees

May 31 – 5:30pm-6:30pm - Bill 32: Dealing with Difficult People
Bill 32: Dealing with Difficult People | Canadian Union of Public Employees

June

June 4 – 6pm-9pm - Trustee Orientation
LET - Trustee Orientation (OLS) | Canadian Union of Public Employees

June 5 – 9am-noon - Secretary-Treasurer Orientation
Secretary-Treasurer Orientation (OLS) | Canadian Union of Public Employees

June 11 – 9am-4pm – Introduction to Stewarding Part 1 and Part 2– 9am-4pm
Introduction to Stewarding - Part 1 and Part 2 | Canadian Union of Public Employees

June 15 – 5:30pm – 8:30pm - LET – Virtual Membership Meetings
LET - Virtual Membership Meetings (OLS) | Canadian Union of Public Employees

If you have any questions, please contact your CUPE Local 4070 Education Committee at: education@cupe4070.ca or reach out to your Base VP.
 

Coursera:  an American online course provider, which was founded in 2012, who works with other universities and organizations to offer an array of online courses, certificates, and degrees.  Here are a few of their current courses being offered, however not limited to:

• Chinese for Beginners

• Buddhism and Modern Psychology

• Introduction to Yoga and Physiology

• Foundations of Mindfulness

• Financial Markets

• Psychological First Aid

• First Step Korean

• Stanford Introduction to Health

• Principles of Sustainable Finance

Other courses are offered within many different subject, including but not limited to:These are to just mention a few.  They offer courses in many topics…Arts and Humanities (338 courses), Business (1095 courses), Language Learning (150 courses) , Physical Science and Engineering (413 courses), Personal Development (137 courses).  Coursera offers courses for free, with the option to purchase the certificate prior to as well as after completion of the courses.

*Some other sites that are similar to Coursera are: alison.com, shawacademy.com.

We look forward to your attendance for the General Membership Meeting, May 21,2021, where your vote will count towards the future of our LOCAL 4070. For more information on the GMM CLICK HERE.

In Solidarity,
Your CUPE 4070 Education Committee

General Membership Meeting UPDATE - May 21, 2021

Dear Members,

The next General Membership Meeting (GMM) will take place on May 21, 2021 at 12:00PT / 13:00MT / 15:00ET.  All Members in Good Standing of CUPE Local 4070 are encouraged to attend. 

**Please note: General Membership Meetings are only open to Members in Good Standing. To sign a card and pay the $5 initiation fee, please visit www.cupe4070.ca/signacard. Please ensure you have signed your card at least 24 hours prior to the GMM to ensure it is processed.

Due to COVID and ongoing public health orders prohibiting in person gatherings, the GMM will be held live via Zoom. 

You will not be able to attend the GMM without registering. Registration will be open from now through the GMM. Once your registration is approved, you will be sent a link for the meeting. We ask that you register as soon as possible to ensure us time to approve your registration.

Click here to register for the GMM

***Please call or log on prior to the start of the GMM. This will put you in the waiting room until the start of the meeting. If you encounter any technical difficulties, please email Communications@cupe4070.ca and include your name, workgroup, and employee number***

The Meeting Agenda, Secretary Treasurer's Performance Report, and meeting minutes from the last GMM (held on August 6, 2020 in YVR) will be posted  in the Member’s Portal cupe4070.ca no later than 24 hours prior to the start of this GMM. 

If you have not registered for the Member’s Portal please find the instructions below:

WestJet Members

WestJet Encore Members

Swoop Members

Priority Agenda Items:

• Bargaining for WO and WR

• Elections

• WS Collective Agreement - MSL and Implementation Timelines

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are attending the GMM via the phone number provided in the invitation, you will not be able to vote on any motions brought to the floor. You will only be able to vote when attending the GMM from the Zoom app or web link.

In Solidarity,
Your CUPE 4070 Executive Team

WestJet Encore Bargaining Update #5

Dear Members,

WestJet Encore Collective Bargaining took place from May 11 - 13, 2021, via Zoom between the Union and the Company. The work of your Elected Bargaining Committee, including Local 4070 President, Vice President, and CUPE National Bargaining Representatives, continued. Last week can be characterized as productive, and positive. Both sides appeared to demonstrate sincere regard towards understanding the other’s concerns and points of view. As a result, meaningful movement was achieved on both of the most significant articles towards reaching a Tentative Agreement (TA) on the overall Collective Agreement (CA): Scheduling and Pay Administration.

The Scheduling Article had been passed between the parties during our previous round of negotiations multiple times. This continued as we started the week of bargaining. Both sides made significant strides towards efficiently coming to an agreement. Scheduling was signed in TA. The week continued with other smaller Articles being signed in TA, as well as negotiations on the other large and significant article: Pay Administration. In essence: how your pay is calculated, including minimum daily credit, per diems, day and trip RIGS (Ratios In Guarantee), and many other issues related to pay calculations and payouts.

In total, 8 (eight) articles, and 1 (one) Letter of Understanding (related to the Scheduling Article) were signed off in Tentative Agreement. They are: 
 

● Discrimination or Harassment

● Compassionate Transfers

● Scheduling 

    ○ Letter of Understanding (LOU) No. 1 (related to Scheduling Article) 

● Union Communication 

● Hostage, Internment, or Death 

● Pay Administration 

● Charter Operations 

● Ad Hoc Assignments 

To provide the Membership with perspective in terms of where we are at in the Collective Bargaining process:
 

Following completion of TAs for each of the planned forty-seven (47) articles that will comprise the WestJet Encore proposed Collective Agreement, the final step prior to the conclusion of negotiations will be the bargaining of the all-encompassing monetary and financial package. Essentially, this will be the negotiation of anything throughout all of the tentatively agreed to articles that is related to monetary or financial matters. These articles have been negotiated in principle, with specific dollar or cost amounts that have been left “TBD” or ‘to be determined’. This is common practice in negotiations of first Collective Agreements following union certification. All TBD references will have their specific value negotiated in the final monetary package. 

The Committee, and your CUPE 4070 Executive wishes to assure you - we believe that we are well on the way towards presenting Membership with a Tentative Agreement in 2021. Having now completed negotiations on ‘Scheduling’ and ‘Pay Administration’, we feel very good about where we are in this process overall.

The next round of Bargaining for the WestJet Encore Collective Agreement is scheduled for May 25 - 27, 2021. We will update you again following these negotiations.

Bargaining dates are secured through the summer:

June 21 - 24, 2021

July 13 - 15, 2021

August 17 - 19, 2021

August 31 - September 2, 2021

September 14 - 16, 2021

September 28 - 30, 2021

Should you have any questions regarding the bargaining process, please contact us at: weare4070@cupe4070.ca.

 
In Solidarity,
Your CUPE 4070 WestJet Encore Bargaining Committee

Recall Notice – (WR) WestJet Encore Members

Dear Members,

We are very pleased to share that the Union has been advised by the Company of ‘recalls’ to active status effective June 1, 2021.

Recall will occur based on the Company Service Lists that are published by base – the same lists that were used to determine those who were placed on furlough, and will be completed senior to junior within each base. These lists are available after log-in at www.cupe4070.ca.

This recall will see a total of 44 CCMs returned to active status:
- 14 CCMs in YYZ
- 30 CCMs in YYC

In the Memorandum of Agreement agreed to between the Union and the Company, there exist two (2) options for the time-frame of recall and acceptance by the Member. The Company will be executing the ‘Expedited Recall‘ Option 1 as outlined in the MOA (Articles 7 & 8).

To determine if you are eligible for recall as of June 1, 2021:
1) Check the personal email account that you have most recently registered with the Company related to your inactive status.
2) Ensure to check your ‘spam/junk’ folder, just in case.
3) The Company will provide official recall notice, or contingent recall notice which will be marked in part ‘SHORT NOTICE RECALL’ to that email address.

As indicated, this recall is being executed under the ‘Expedited Recall’ and Members eligible for recall will have only 48 HOURS to accept a recall should they desire. The Company has advised the Union that recall notices will go out later today.

Ability to decline recall:
As per the MOU executed between WestJet Encore and CUPE Local 4070, if you are senior enough to hold recall and recall is offered to you, you may elect to decline a recall, and await recall in the future should it occur. You may opt to decline any recall until such time as there are no other Members junior to you on your base’s Company Service List, at which time a decline to recall would be the end of your employment.

The Union and the Company continue to work together cooperatively towards the goal of seeing demand and network capacity grow to a point where recalling all Members that have been placed on furlough becomes a reality.

While today’s recall is positive news, there remain no guarantees of when and how many Members will be recalled in the future – this will be determined by customer demand and ultimately Network Planning. Please keep this in mind should you choose to decline an offer of recall.

Despite growing vaccination levels, and optimism that we may feel, it is important to remind ourselves that the virus is not gone, and your health and safety is of utmost importance. Please continue to follow all directions from the Union and the Company related to COVID-19 protocols, and please continue to use your PPE as appropriate and as directed.

For concerns or questions related to health and safety, please contact the CUPE 4070 WestJet Encore Health & Safety Committee at: wr.ohs@cupe4070.ca.

Additionally, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Union via our contact link: www.cupe4070.ca/contact.


In Solidarity,
Your CUPE 4070 Executive Team

National Day of Mourning

Hello CUPE 4070 Members,
 
On April 28th of each year, the National Day of Mourning is a chance for us to remember and reflect on those that have been hurt or have died on the job. Roughly 1000 workers a year in Canada lose their lives, and we as your Heath & Safety Committee Members believe this is too high and strive everyday to prevent this number from increasing.

We have been hit hard by this pandemic and have had Members directly impacted from Covid-19. The sacrifices made over the last 13 months has been nothing short of amazing, and we can now finally see some light at the end of the tunnel.  Thank you!

Our goal moving forward is to support our Members with increased awareness, better legislation, and the resources necessary to keep us safe.

In Solidarity,
Your CUPE 4070 Health & Safety Committee
WestJet - ws.ohs@cupe4070.ca
WestJet Encore - wr.ohs@cupe4070.ca
Swoop - wo.ohs@cupe4070.ca
 

Watch a message from CUPE’s National Officers

WestJet Encore Bargaining Update #4

Dear Members,

Last week, Round 5 of WestJet Encore Collective Bargaining took place April 7 - 9, 2021, via Zoom between the Union and the Company. The work of your Elected Bargaining Committee, including the Local 4070 President, Vice President, and CUPE National Bargaining Representatives, continues as we press ahead with the priorities that the Membership sent us to the negotiating table to achieve.

The work with both the Scheduling and the Reserve Articles passed back and forth multiple times. These two articles are large and comprehensive in nature. As a result, significant time by both parties is being invested to ensure well functioning and concise language to ensure the needs of each side is secured.

As previously mentioned in Bargaining Update #3: new concepts are being negotiated, and with this, the necessity for proper and diligent review of all proposals and their overarching impact on our Membership continues to be the top priority. One small change in the Scheduling Article can lead to unintended impacts across multiple other facets of the Agreement. The Committee ensures full diligence in reviewing all proposed language from the Company.

After two more days of proposal exchanges, by Friday morning a Tentative Agreement (TA) on the Reserve Article was reached. This has now been signed by both parties.

The remainder of Friday saw the Union Committee perfecting its proposed return of the 11-page Scheduling Article. This was completed by the Committee, and before the end of the day the Union presented its proposal back to the Company. Sound and detailed work has been put into this article by both sides. The Company has taken our proposal away and will respond at the start of our next scheduled round of bargaining. We are optimistic that a TA will soon be reached, with the majority of the content already agreed to in this Article.

Our next round of WestJet Encore bargaining is scheduled for May 11 - 13, 2021. Following reaching TA on the ongoing Scheduling negotiations, both sides have agreed to take on the Pay Administration Article. This is another large and significant Article, and includes, but is not limited to, wage rates/grids, how and when rates of pay are applied, daily and pairing minimums.

We have understood the mandate that our Members have sent us to the negotiating table with, and we will continue to work hard to secure the much needed improvements in this Article.

Should you have any questions regarding the bargaining process, please contact us at: weare4070@cupe4070.ca.


In Solidarity,
Your CUPE 4070 WestJet Encore Bargaining Committee

National Survey on Harassment and Violence at Work

Dear Members,

As a chartered Local of CUPE, Local 4070 is affiliated with The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). The CLC Women’s Advisory Committee is conducting a national survey on workplace violence and harassment. This survey is open to workers of all genders and results of this research will inform policy and education initiatives on workplace violence and sexual harassment. 

Take the survey now

The survey is being conducted by the Canadian Labour Congress in partnership with research experts at Western University. It is the first ever survey on violence and sexual harassment with a national reach in Canada, and will help unions, employers, and policy makers create safer workplaces for everyone.

This survey is for everyone - whether or not you have experienced or witnessed workplace violence or harassment. It will take approximately 10 to 30 minutes to complete, and all respondents will remain anonymous.

Your participation makes a difference! Thank you for helping make work safer for everyone.

In Solidarity,
Your CUPE 4070 Executive Team

CUPE 4070 General Membership Meeting - May 2021

Dear WestJet Members,

We are excited to announce the next General Membership Meeting (GMM) for CUPE Local 4070. Due to the restrictions created by the pandemic the GMM will be held virtually:

Friday May 21, 2021 

12:00PT / 13:00MT / 15:00ET  - 13:00PT / 14:00MT / 16:00ET

Location: Zoom

All Members In Good Standing (have signed a card and paid the $5 initiation fee) are eligible to participate. The meeting will be 60 minutes and dedicated to the official meeting agenda, and allow motions from the floor.

If you have not signed a card and would like to participate you can sign your card here.

The General Membership Meeting will be held over Zoom Webinar. Information on how to attend will be released in early May.

In Solidarity,
Your CUPE 4070 Executive Team

Union Clarification on Company Announcement re: Eastern Service Resumption

Dear Members,

You may have seen the Company press release and/or media coverage that WestJet and WestJet Encore will be resuming services in June to: Quebec City, Moncton, Fredericton, Charlottetown and Sydney, NS.

The Union was provided a briefing on this news by the Company on Tuesday, March 23, 2021. We would like to share with our Membership the context surrounding this announcement, and its implications for our Membership.

At present, across all three networks, we are only operating approximately 8% of the capacity that we were prior to the pandemic. The resumption of service to these five stations will increase that capacity by only 1%, for a total network capacity of 9% of pre-pandemic levels.

Based on today’s announcement, combined with the fact that current active Members are blocked significantly lower than their minimum monthly guarantee (MMG), the Company has indicated that this news will not result in recalls at any of the three airlines for Cabin Crew or Pilots.

While this news does not immediately mean recalls for our Members, signs of progress and rebuilding are positive, and always welcome.

We will continue to keep you informed as information related to recovery, route or destination returns, and ultimately, recall information becomes known to the Union.

This has been a long and very difficult time for all of our Members, whether active or not. Please know that each of us elected to represent you recognize this, and we will continue to lobby governments on all of our behalf, along with the CUPE Airline Division and with our Employer. We remain hopeful that further into the summer we will see more restrictions lifted and further signs of recovery for our Company and our sector overall.

As always, if you have any questions, please contact us at: www.cupe4070.ca/contact.
 

In Solidarity,
Your CUPE 4070 Executive Team