Union drives reignite at WestJet
#1
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2002
Location: YEG
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 56,457
Union drives reignite at WestJet
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/west...back-1.3785473
After unsuccessful drives in 2015, pilots and flight attendants at WestJet are working again to form unions at the fast-growing airline. There's one key difference this time around, though.
Last year, they were racing against the calendar as labour laws changed in June 2015 to make certification more difficult. Now the opposite is true.
The Liberal government is getting close to repealing the law that changed the way unions are formed in federally regulated industries. Soon, it will most likely be easier to form a union in Canada.
Easier, but not exactly easy.
After unsuccessful drives in 2015, pilots and flight attendants at WestJet are working again to form unions at the fast-growing airline. There's one key difference this time around, though.
Last year, they were racing against the calendar as labour laws changed in June 2015 to make certification more difficult. Now the opposite is true.
The Liberal government is getting close to repealing the law that changed the way unions are formed in federally regulated industries. Soon, it will most likely be easier to form a union in Canada.
Easier, but not exactly easy.
#2
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: YYG
Programs: airlines and hotels and rental cars - oh my!
Posts: 3,006
For the life of my I can't understand why anyone in their right mind would want to be part of a union in today's world. Why pay a hefty fee off each paycheque for the privilege of pigeon-holing yourself and being tied to the lowest common denominator?
#3
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: YVR
Programs: Erstwhile Accidental AC E35K
Posts: 2,921
And the union makes us strong?
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,150
#5
Senior Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: UA Plat/2MM [23-yr. 1K, now emeritus] clawing way back to WN-A List; MR LT Titanium; HY Whateverist.
Posts: 12,396
Moderator note.
In order to keep the thread open in this, the WestJet forum, can we please steer it a bit up from being a meta discussion on unions, generally, and the direction of the Canadian government?
FlyerTalk's OMNI and OMNI/PR forums await those who do wish to discuss the above topics. Thanks, Ocn Vw 1K, Senior Moderator.
FlyerTalk's OMNI and OMNI/PR forums await those who do wish to discuss the above topics. Thanks, Ocn Vw 1K, Senior Moderator.
#6
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: YVR TLS
Programs: Air France Flying Blue, Altitude SE-100k, AAdvantage, United Mileage Plus, WS rewards, BonVoy Titan
Posts: 913
I cannot comment on the FA's but from a few pilots I know at WJA the feeling this next attempt will most likely be successful in forming a Union (WPPA: West Jet Professional Pilots Association)
#7
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: No single airline or hotel chain is of much use to me anymore.
Posts: 3,279
A couple pilots and flight attendants have told me that they think it's inevitable but Greg Saretsky leaving would probably hit the reset switch for at least a little while.
#8
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: fwp blood diamond, dykwia uranium
Posts: 7,252
fedex employees would agree. and customers seem happy to avail themselves of this company and ditto on shareholders.
ws corporate culture has changed a lot over the years, much like any startup that matures. plus the whole profit sharing to pad low salaries isn't working out and doesn't seem to be sustainable long term. but that was sorta for a reason, ws didn't want lifer ramp or customer service or call center agents. pilots do not seem too happy with their work rules and pay scale. like any skilled trade i sympathize with the workers, to a point.
i think they learned from last time, not to mention the nw mechanics case study, that it would be best to go with alpa. but mind you ws isn't as ruthless as nw was.
Last edited by cur; Oct 12, 2016 at 5:15 am