CUPE’s No-Concessions Policy at the Bargaining Table

Dear Members,

As we prepare for upcoming rounds of bargaining, we want to reaffirm an important principle that guides our work: there will be no concessions in our negotiations.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL POLICY ON OUR BARGAINING WEBSITE

A concession occurs when a union accepts an employer’s demand for something less than what members already have—whether that’s wages, benefits, or working conditions or any other current contract provision —without receiving something of equal or greater value, or importance, in return. Concessions move us backwards, and CUPE’s National Executive Board has a clear policy that we will not bargain them.

A two-tier provision is always a form of concession. It happens when different groups of employees doing the same work receive different wages, benefits, or working conditions—based on their date of hire. For example, new hires might be offered lower pay, fewer benefits, or weaker pension protections than existing employees. While it may seem like it doesn’t affect current members directly, two-tier systems divide the membership, weaken solidarity, and create long-term downward pressure on everyone’s working conditions. For these reasons, CUPE’s policy is clear: we will not negotiate two-tier agreements.

We must acknowledge that our former Sunwing cabin personnel were ordered by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to remain on the Sunwing collective agreement pay scale. This situation will be brought forward at the bargaining table with the goal of ensuring that all WestJet cabin personnel are on the same wage scale and compensation structure. Importantly, as part of CUPE’s no-concessions policy, it is not the position of the union to negotiate lower total compensation for any group of members. Our bargaining mandate is to raise standards and unify compensation, not to reduce it.

We also want to acknowledge our history as a component. When our first collective agreement was reached, there was no prior CUPE contract in place. While many members felt that agreement contained concessions, technically it was not considered concessionary bargaining, since there was no existing collective agreement to diminish. At that time, we were transitioning from an employee association to a certified union, which is a very different starting point than where we are today.

Now, we are in a stronger position. We have a collective agreement that establishes our rights, protections, and working conditions—and CUPE’s policy ensures that this agreement is the floor, not the ceiling. Bargaining is about moving forward, not backward.

We have already informed the Company of CUPE’s no-concessions and no-two-tier position so they are fully aware of our stance at the bargaining table. Our focus is on improving wages, benefits, and working conditions for all members, not giving them up.

This strong and united position protects not only current members, but also future generations of WestJet cabin crew. If a provision is not good enough for us, it is not good enough for those who will come after us.

We will continue to keep you updated as bargaining progresses. Together, with solidarity and determination, we will ensure that our next agreement builds on what we have—not less.

In Unity,

WestJet Bargaining Committee

Alia Hussain - President
Bryan Hansraj - WestJet Unit VP
Jean-Francois Laframboise - YVR/YEG Rep
Shane Campbell - YYC Rep
Justin Patterson - YYZ Rep
Cailey Millard - YWG/YUL Rep
Alex Grigoriev - Local Executive (Alternate)
Cameron Jones - Local Executive (Alternate)