Bargaining Update #38: Understanding the Ratification Process
Dear Members,
Your Bargaining Committee has prepared a high-level overview of the key changes contained in the Tentative Agreement. This overview is intended to introduce the major improvements and changes that were negotiated during collective bargaining.
The overview is not a replacement for the complete Tentative Agreement.
CUPE National is assisting with the preparation and final review of the legal contract, which will be provided to members in advance of the ratification vote. Members will also receive additional explanatory materials, implementation information, and opportunities to ask questions before voting begins.
This document explains what to expect over the coming weeks, the ratification process, and what happens depending on the outcome of the vote.
This communication will be released in the coming hours.
Our Commitment to Members
Your Bargaining Committee is committed to ensuring every member has the information they need to make an informed decision.
We understand that members have different priorities, experiences, and expectations. While not every negotiated outcome will affect every member in the same way, every member deserves clear, honest, and transparent information about what was achieved, where things evolved landing us to this final state.
Throughout the ratification process, we will host town halls, answer questions, and provide additional context.
If you have questions, ask them.
We would rather answer the same question many times than have members rely on assumptions, rumours, or incomplete information. Our role is to help members understand the agreement, not simply present it.
Your Vote, Your Right, and Your Responsibility
Every member has the democratic right to vote Yes or No on the Tentative Agreement. That right belongs to every individual member and will always be respected.
With that right comes the responsibility to make an informed decision.
We encourage every member to:
review the Tentative Agreement and supporting materials;
attend a ratification townhall if possible;
ask questions if something is unclear;
consider the agreement as a complete package; and
understand the consequences of both accepting or rejecting the agreement.
Collective bargaining is a process of negotiation. It is a process of push and pull, not simply one side making demands until every proposal is achieved. Every collective agreement reflects priorities, compromise, and movement by both parties.
Even during a strike or other job action, there is no guarantee that every bargaining objective will ultimately be achieved. The question before members is whether the negotiated agreement represents an acceptable outcome, when compared to the realistic alternatives available.
Our responsibility is not to tell members how to vote. Our responsibility is to ensure members understand the agreement, the bargaining process, and the consequences of each possible outcome. Once members have that information, the decision belongs to them.
Information, Social Media and Artificial Intelligence
During the ratification process, members will see information and opinions from many different sources, including social media, group chats, artificial intelligence (AI) tools, and conversations with coworkers.
These discussions are a normal part of the process, but they are not always complete or accurate.
AI tools can misunderstand contract language, overlook important context, or confidently provide incorrect interpretations. Similarly, social media discussions often reflect individual opinions rather than the complete bargaining picture.
We encourage members to use the official Tentative Agreement, Bargaining Committee communications, FAQs, and ratification townhalls as their primary sources of information.
If something you read online raises a question, ask us. We are committed to answering questions and helping members understand the agreement.
Ultimately, every member is responsible for their own vote. Make your decision based on verified information, a review of the complete agreement, and your own assessment—not on rumours, speculation, or pressure from others.
What Happens Next?
Ratification Townhalls
Your Bargaining Committee will host a series of ratification townhalls next week to review the Tentative Agreement, explain the bargaining process, discuss the major negotiated changes, and provide the context behind the Committee's recommendations.
These sessions are intended to help members understand the agreement before voting and will include opportunities to ask questions and receive clarification.
Dates, registration information, and additional details will be shared shortly.
Ratification Vote
Following the townhalls, members will have the opportunity to vote on the Tentative Agreement. Members will vote on the agreement as a complete package.
If the Tentative Agreement Is Ratified (YES VOTE)
If members vote YES to ratify the Tentative Agreement, implementation will begin according to an agreed-upon implementation schedule.
Some improvements will take effect immediately, while others may require payroll updates, scheduling changes, system modifications, or implementation at the beginning of a future bid period.
Members will receive a detailed implementation timeline outlining when various provisions are expected to come into effect.
If the Tentative Agreement Is Rejected (NO VOTE)
If members vote No, the parties will return to mediation for up to 30 days in an effort to reach a revised agreement.
If mediation is unsuccessful, the remaining outstanding issues will proceed to binding arbitration.
It is important to know that arbitration is not another round of bargaining.
An arbitrator does not simply take the Tentative Agreement and add the items members wanted. Arbitration is a separate legal process in which the arbitrator considers the evidence presented by both parties, industry comparators, applicable labour relations principles, and what they determine to be a reasonable outcome.
Arbitration does not guarantee a better agreement.
The outcome could be better in some areas, worse in others, or substantially similar to the Tentative Agreement.
Some members may consider voting No because a particular proposal was not achieved. That is every member's right. However, members should also consider whether that issue is one an arbitrator is likely to award, and whether pursuing that objective could place other negotiated gains at risk. Ask questions in the townhalls.
Not every improvement achieved through collective bargaining is automatically preserved or enhanced in arbitration. Bargaining allows parties to negotiate creative solutions, compromises, and package settlements that may not be available through an arbitrated award.
During the townhalls your Bargaining Committee can provide additional information about the arbitration process, including realistic expectations regarding issues members may be considering when deciding how to vote. Our goal is not to persuade members to vote one way or the other, but to ensure everyone understands both the opportunities and the risks before making their decision.
Moving Forward Together
Ratification is one of the most important decisions members make during collective bargaining.
Your Bargaining Committee encourages every member to take the time to review the materials provided, participate in the townhalls, ask questions, and make an informed decision based on the complete agreement and a clear understanding of what comes next.
Whatever your decision, we ask that it be based on facts, informed discussion, and an understanding of the bargaining process.
We look forward to continuing these conversations with you throughout the ratification process and thank every member for their engagement, professionalism, and participation.
In Unity,
Your WestJet Mainline Bargaining Committee