I just did some research, found the flight attendants public cupe union page . They posted a very informative update for their flight attendants. Very shocked at the lack of care for the flight attendants or initiative for their employees. Here is the letter:

https://www.cupe4070.ca/front-page-n...demic-update-9

“COVID-19 Pandemic Update #9

DEAR MEMBERS,

We would like to update you on what has transpired in the past 24 hours related to further reductions in scheduled flying at WestJet, WestJet Encore and Swoop which will be in effect May 1, 2020 onwards.

Yesterday, the Employers’ Senior Executive Team hosted a call for all Union and Employee Association leaders. During this call, they outlined further cuts to our respective operations. The labour groups were advised that further job reductions in the form of involuntary layoffs were to be announced to all employees on the Executive webinar on Wednesday (today) at 14:00MT, effective May 1, 2020.

Since the Federal Government announced the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) Program, your Union has been appropriately applying pressure for our Employer to take advantage of this program in order to: avoid further layoffs, and in fact, return those already on a voluntary measure (not including early retirement or early out) to payroll as soon as possible should they wish. The Employers’ stance had, until early this morning, been that there are insufficient details available on this program, and that their attempts to interact with the Government were simply bearing no results.

By avoiding layoffs and bringing others back on payroll via the Government CEWS program, 75% of the Members’ earnings are paid for by the Federal Government. This does not add cost to the Employer. Even if the Company elects not to top-up the remaining 25% of earnings, many Members will be better off by up to $300 every week, as opposed to being off payroll and on other Federal programs.

On Tuesday, CUPE 4070 became aware that despite the explanation offered to our Union, Air Canada was preparing to announce on Wednesday that they would be returning all 16,500 impacted employees to their payroll, as well as mitigating further layoffs. Your CUPE Local 4070 Executive was in immediate contact with the Company Senior Executive Team and advised them of this confirmed and pending news from our Competitor. Our Company appeared to be taken off-guard, and committed to further investigation on Wednesday.

By early Wednesday morning, CUPE had a copy of the CUPE Component of Air Canada’s announcement to their members indicating the option of a return to payroll for all impacted members, and further job reduction mitigation. Once again, this information was immediately provided to WestJet Senior Management with the caveat that should WestJet choose to continue to ignore the opportunities of the CEWS, and continue with further layoffs this afternoon, CUPE Local 4070 would commence a national media campaign to “highlight the inability of WestJet to work with the Federal Government to rehire workers, like Air Canada, and instead is planning indeed more layoffs.”

Within 30 minutes, an ‘Emergency’ conference call with Labour leaders was organized by the Company. On this call it was made clear that in light of changing circumstances, the Employer will now make it a priority to enact the CEWS for WestJet, WestJet Encore and Swoop employees, based on Parliamentary acceptance of the CEWS.

As you may have seen from the revised network plans effective May 1, 2020, the drastic further network reductions were most certainly going to result in significant layoffs for our Members from all three workgroups.

CUPE 4070 is pleased with the Company’s change of heart, as it relates to the CEWS program and the potential to now prevent further removal from payroll for more of our Membership, and the potential to soon return those on layoff or voluntary measures to Company payroll, back-dated to March 15, 2020 as per the Federal program.

Your Union will continue to fight every step of the way through this critical time to ensure that our Members’ interests are fundamentally at the top-of-mind with the Company’s Executive Team. We are proud to have helped open our Employer’s eyes and ears to what our Members need: access to the CEWS program like CUPE Members at Air Canada.

As always, we will update our Members as more information becomes available. At this time, much work needs to be done with regards to the CEWS option. Finer details are therefore not yet known as of tonight. The CEWS is also subject to government approval. We will return with further information in the days ahead as details emerge. Tonight, we are pleased we have halted the planned layoffs that were to be announced this afternoon, and will focus on the work ahead.”

Cannot believe how complacent and lack of awareness their corporate executives have shown for their front line crew. good for their union!