Malcolm Posted June 15 Share Posted June 15 SUBSCRIBE WestJet Encore pilots ratify deal, averting strike By The Staff The Canadian Press Posted June 14, 2024 3:28 pm 1 min read View image in full screen A WestJet logo is seen in the domestic check-in area at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., Friday, May 19, 2023. Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press LEAVE A COMMENTSHARE THIS ITEM ON FACEBOOKSHARE THIS ITEM ON TWITTERSEND THIS PAGE TO SOMEONE VIA EMAILSEE MORE SHARING OPTIONS DESCREASE ARTICLE FONT SIZE INCREASE ARTICLE FONT SIZE WestJet Encore pilots have given the green light to a deal with their employer, averting a strike at the regional airline. The Air Line Pilots Association said its members have ratified a five-year contract that offers higher pay, more flexible schedules and “a better work-life balance.” The union says about 79 per cent of the pilots who cast a ballot approved the collective agreement, with the vast majority of the carrier’s 350-plus pilots participating in the vote. Calgary's breaking news sent to your email as it happens. Carin Kenny, who heads the union’s WestJet Encore contingent, said the deal establishes “a level of career progression” toward flying bigger planes at the carrier’s mainline operation — crucial to attracting new pilots and retaining those already on board.ces new ‘no frills’ tickets The contract goes into effect immediately, with retroactive pay to Jan. 1. The vote this week cemented a tentative agreement reached on May 30, steering clear of the turbulence wrought by 11th-hour deals of the sort reached last year between WestJet and mainline pilots as well as aviators at its now-shuttered Swoop subsidiary. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conehead Posted June 19 Share Posted June 19 Westjet Maintenance will strike on Thursday. Following a challenging negotiations process with the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), the union representing WestJet Aircraft Maintenance Engineers and other Tech Ops employees, WestJet made a formal request that the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) and Minister of Labour intervene under the Canada Labour code, on Monday June 17, 2024. This process would refer both WestJet and AMFA to arbitration for a first collective agreement and would allow an unbiased third-party to issue a collective agreement that would be binding on both parties. It would also prevent any labour action by either party. In response to WestJet’s request, AMFA issued a 72-hour strike notification, indicating intent for a work stoppage as early as Thursday, June 20 at 7:00 p.m. MT. This 72-hour notice does not mean travel disruption will occur. “Requesting intervention on behalf of the CIRB and Minister of Labour under the Canada Labour Code allows an unbiased third-party to issue a reasonable collective agreement,” says Diederik Pen, President of WestJet Airlines and Chief Operating Officer. “Through this process we aim to avoid disruption and ensure a fair and impartial resolution, providing certainty to our guests and the communities we serve who are relying on us to fulfill their summer travel plans, as well as providing stability and security for all employees at the WestJet Group.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted June 19 Share Posted June 19 WestJet is cancelling dozens of flights as mechanic strike looms By Uday Rana Global News Posted June 19, 2024 8:14 am 1 min read WestJet is cancelling dozens of flights across Canada as unionized maintenance engineers at the company prepare to go on strike. The company said in a statement on Wednesday that it was going to cancel 40 flights as it prepares for labour action by WestJet aircraft maintenance engineers and other tech ops employees. The airline said the cancellation would affect around 6,500 passengers. The group said both guests and crew were being informed of the cancellations, which were being rolled out to minimize the potential of flights being stranded and abandoned in remote locations. On Monday, WestJet mechanics gave a 72-hour strike notice and said they were ready to walk off the job as early as Thursday night. The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, which represents some 670 aircraft maintenance engineers and other skilled-trade positions at the carrier, says it made the decision after WestJet cut off talks this week. fare WestJet asked the federal labour minister to refer negotiations to the Canada Industrial Relations Board, which would then arbitrate the terms of a collective agreement. In its statement Wednesday, the WestJet group said it “awaits a response on behalf of the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to intervene under the Canada Labour Code. If accepted, this action would refer both WestJet and AMFA to arbitration for a first collective agreement and prevent labour action by either party.” WestJet president Diederik Pen said arbitration would allow an unbiased third party to lay out a reasonable deal, and would bar a work stoppage in the meantime. However, the union, whose members voted overwhelmingly to reject a tentative agreement last week, opposes the move, saying it would undermine its goal of an “industry-changing contract.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deicer Posted June 20 Share Posted June 20 Strike action off the table, for now. https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/westjet-and-unionized-mechanics-agree-to-resume-talks-strike-action-is-off-the-table-1.2087426 WestJet and unionized mechanics agree to resume talks; strike action is off the table The threat of strike action by unionized mechanics at WestJet has been dropped after both sides agreed to return to the bargaining table. An overnight statement says the air carrier appeared before the Canadian Industrial Relations Board to discuss arbitration options with its Aircraft Maintenance Engineers and Tech Ops employees. CIRB officials say more information is needed from both sides before deciding whether arbitration is the best way to reach a first-time collective bargaining agreement. In the meantime, both parties have jointly agreed to return to the bargaining table and continue working towards a resolution. Union members voted overwhelmingly to reject a tentative deal last week and voiced opposition to the airline's request for arbitration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrlupin Posted June 20 Share Posted June 20 The latest decision isn't in the CIRB decisions database yet. The information from AMFA's web site is somewhat different from what was posted above. https://www.amfanational.org/?zone=/unionactive/view_article.cfm&HomeID=923429 AMFA-WJ Negotiations Update #21: CIRB Upholds Our Right to Strike; AMFA Rescinds Strike Notice That version suggests CIRB will let maintenance strike at Westjet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbofan Posted June 20 Share Posted June 20 The issue is that this is a first contract for WJ maintenance. The rules are different on a first CBA and either party can request arbitration. WestJet did the same thing to their pilots on CBA 1. Subsequent negotiations don’t have this. It’s good to see the CIRB being as hands off as possible. However I doubt the possibility of later intervention is completely eliminated, which might explain the differences in messaging. Good luck! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deicer Posted Wednesday at 11:33 AM Share Posted Wednesday at 11:33 AM https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/westjet-mechanics-issue-strike-notice-for-possible-job-action-friday-1.2089686 WestJet mechanics issue strike notice for possible job action Friday WestJet says it faces a possible strike by its mechanics starting as early as Friday. The airline says the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association has issued a strike notice that could mean a work stoppage as early as 5:30 p.m. (MT) on Friday. The notice comes after the union called off its strike plans last week and returned to the negotiating table. WestJet says it will start taking action in the coming days to manage the impacts of the possible job action. The airline cancelled dozens of flights last week before contract talks resumed. Union members voted overwhelmingly to reject a tentative deal earlier this month and have voiced opposition to WestJet's request for arbitration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deicer Posted Thursday at 11:38 AM Share Posted Thursday at 11:38 AM Will they or won't they? https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/westjet-cancels-flights-after-mechanics-union-issues-second-strike-notice-1.2090268 WestJet cancels flights after mechanics union issues second strike notice WestJet is cancelling flights ahead of a possible strike by its mechanics' union. The Calgary-based airline says in a statement the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association has provided them with another notice of strike action. WestJet says that as a result, it has preemptively cancelled 25 flights between Thursday and Friday, affecting about 3,300 customers. This comes as the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association is accusing WestJet of suing it without notifying its negotiators, who are working with the airline on working out a new collective bargaining deal. The union says WestJet's statement about a strike putting it and travellers in peril is "inflammatory" and is urging WestJet to spend more negotiating with union representatives. Union members overwhelmingly voted to reject a tentative deal earlier this month and have opposed WestJet's request for arbitration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted Thursday at 06:56 PM Share Posted Thursday at 06:56 PM WestJet CEO: union “divorced from reality” | Watch (msn.com) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Specs Posted Thursday at 07:56 PM Share Posted Thursday at 07:56 PM (edited) They're working on Boeings? Shouldn't that bring a premium for the added pressure? Edited Thursday at 07:57 PM by Specs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conehead Posted Thursday at 08:57 PM Share Posted Thursday at 08:57 PM The Minister of Labour has just ordered binding arbitration. There will be no strike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbofan Posted Thursday at 10:07 PM Share Posted Thursday at 10:07 PM 1 hour ago, conehead said: The Minister of Labour has just ordered binding arbitration. There will be no strike. First contract rules bit them. Same thing happened to WJ pilots the first time around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GDR Posted Friday at 03:05 PM Share Posted Friday at 03:05 PM It was about the year 2000 in YYC and I had just flown in from LHR. I had a deadhead flight back to my home base in YVR. I then was on standby to get to my home in YYJ. I noticed that there was a Westjet flight from YYC-YLW-YYJ. I went to the Westjet counter still in uniform and asked about getting me home to YYJ in the jump seat. I was welcomed by everyone with a big smile at both the counter and in the cockpit. Also on that flight was Clive Beddoes then CEO and founder of Westjet. I had a good long chat with him and he was simply a great guy. To everyone on the flight he was simply Clive. We got into YLW and as he got off the aircraft in YLW the baggage handlers all looked up and said hi Clive. There was just a great atmosphere around the whole operation. It is really sad to see how far that has deteriorated since then. Ultimately the love of money and power by us humans makes that kind of operation virtually unsustainable. Sad. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conehead Posted Friday at 03:31 PM Share Posted Friday at 03:31 PM 23 minutes ago, GDR said: It was about the year 2000 in YYC and I had just flown in from LHR. I had a deadhead flight back to my home base in YVR. I then was on standby to get to my home in YYJ. I noticed that there was a Westjet flight from YYC-YLW-YYJ. I went to the Westjet counter still in uniform and asked about getting me home to YYJ in the jump seat. I was welcomed by everyone with a big smile at both the counter and in the cockpit. Also on that flight was Clive Beddoes then CEO and founder of Westjet. I had a good long chat with him and he was simply a great guy. To everyone on the flight he was simply Clive. We got into YLW and as he got off the aircraft in YLW the baggage handlers all looked up and said hi Clive. There was just a great atmosphere around the whole operation. It is really sad to see how far that has deteriorated since then. Ultimately the love of money and power by us humans makes that kind of operation virtually unsustainable. Sad. It is really sad. Those happy days at Westjet are long gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leeroy Posted Friday at 07:07 PM Share Posted Friday at 07:07 PM Those days were great, but Clive was part of the slide to our current state. He was happy when 40% of our income was in the company stock, but when we asked for some money we were told to give our head a shake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conehead Posted Saturday at 04:04 AM Share Posted Saturday at 04:04 AM Well, the strike is on. That was a surprise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrlupin Posted Saturday at 12:13 PM Share Posted Saturday at 12:13 PM CP24 reporting on the strike 1_4900082863216528553.MOV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deicer Posted Saturday at 12:33 PM Share Posted Saturday at 12:33 PM 8 hours ago, conehead said: Well, the strike is on. That was a surprise! How bad does an employer have to be to have this happen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted Saturday at 02:11 PM Share Posted Saturday at 02:11 PM Skip to main content WestJet cancels at least 150 flights following mechanics union strike CTV National News: Latest on WestJet strike action Updated June 29, 2024 7:57 a.m. MDT Published June 29, 2024 6:39 a.m. MDT WestJet says it's cancelled at least 150 flights beginning Saturday after the union maintaining the airline's planes announced it went on strike hours earlier. The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) announced its members started to strike around 5:30 p.m. MDT Friday because the airline's "unwillingness to negotiate with the union made the strike inevitable." he move came after the federal government issued a ministerial order for binding arbitration on Thursday. RELATED STORIES WestJet warns of travel disruption as mechanics union opts to 'continue with strike action' 'No additional flights will be cancelled': WestJet avoids strike as feds order binding arbitration The order also followed two weeks of turbulent discussions with the union on a new deal. Calgary-based WestJet has lambasted the move by the mechanics union, saying it's "extremely outraged at these actions and will hold AMFA 100 per cent accountable for the unnecessary stress and costs incurred as a result." On Thursday, WestJet said that AMFA "confirmed they will abide by the direction. Given this, a strike or lockout will not occur, and the airline will no longer proceed in cancelling flights." The change in position on Friday seemed to shock both travellers and executives alike. "Is my flight on Sunday in jeopardy?" asked Andrew Wheatley of Edmonton in a post to X. "I support a union's right to strike if it's legal. And hopefully, they will get a good deal. But at the same time, I have to be at work Monday morning," he added. In an update to its membership, the union negotiating committee referenced an order by the Canada Industrial Relations Board that does not explicitly bar any strikes or lockouts as the tribunal undertakes arbitration following labour minister Seamus O'Regan's directive Wednesday. This isn't the first time WestJet has been on the verge of a strike. Last year, the airline averted a strike in the early hours of the May long weekend, but before cancelling over 230 flights and forcing thousands of people to have their travel plans changed. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 28, 2024 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted Saturday at 02:13 PM Share Posted Saturday at 02:13 PM 1 hour ago, deicer said: How bad does an employer have to be to have this happen? Or on the other side of the coin, how unreasonable does a union have to be??? I never remember any group going on strike when ordered to enter arbitration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deicer Posted Saturday at 02:20 PM Share Posted Saturday at 02:20 PM 1 minute ago, Malcolm said: Or on the other side of the coin, how unreasonable does a union have to be??? I never remember any group going on strike when ordered to enter arbitration. Not being privy to the details, just from past experience, you have to have a pretty mad employee group for this kind of solidarity to occur. It didn't occur overnight. So what did management do to have it happen? Back in the day, when we were ordered back to work before we went on strike, everyone grumbled but stayed on the job. Then when Lisa the Ratt was slow clapped one night, which led to her ordering the employees fired immediately, it led to a walkout the next morning. Cause and effect. So I ask again, what has the mechanics so angry? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted Saturday at 02:43 PM Share Posted Saturday at 02:43 PM 21 minutes ago, deicer said: Not being privy to the details, just from past experience, you have to have a pretty mad employee group for this kind of solidarity to occur. It didn't occur overnight. Did the union membership have a vote in refusing the order or was it only the decision of the Union Leadership? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deicer Posted Saturday at 02:55 PM Share Posted Saturday at 02:55 PM 11 minutes ago, Malcolm said: Did the union membership have a vote in refusing the order or was it only the decision of the Union Leadership? Will we ever know? It would be interesting to know if it was the complete membership, or partial? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbofan Posted Saturday at 02:58 PM Share Posted Saturday at 02:58 PM 36 minutes ago, Malcolm said: Or on the other side of the coin, how unreasonable does a union have to be??? I never remember any group going on strike when ordered to enter arbitration. Got to admit I am confused as well. The AMFA published the CIRB order that stated arbitration doesn’t remove the right to strike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbofan Posted Saturday at 03:07 PM Share Posted Saturday at 03:07 PM O’Regan’s office Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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