Mainline Bargaining Update #16 – Week 17 of Bargaining

Dear Members,

The Bargaining Committee met with the Company in Toronto, with negotiations taking place at the CUPE Ontario Regional Office.

During these meetings, progress was made with three Articles tentatively agreed to:

• Article 22 – Ad Hoc Assignments

• Article 26 – Aircraft and Company Assigned Equipment

• Article 40 – Charter Operations and Special Purpose Flights

These Articles establish foundational provisions and support greater consistency in how our working conditions are applied in these key areas.

Initial Concept Discussion – Article 34 – Scheduling  

This week included an initial, concept-level discussion on Article 34 - one of the most significant sections of the agreement, as it governs how Cabin Personnel are scheduled and how work is distributed across the operation.

While this was not a formal exchange of proposals, it marked an important first step in establishing a baseline understanding of the current scheduling framework that underpins monthly scheduling.

This includes the Company systems, Company assumptions, and operational considerations that directly impact how pairings are built and assigned.

Given the scope and complexity of Article 34, this discussion is only the beginning. Substantive work remains, including detailed engagement on day-of operations and IROP scenarios, which are critical to how the agreement functions in practice.

This discussion provided the Bargaining Committee with a broader, behind-the-scenes understanding of the Company’s scheduling approach, and operational considerations insight.

Key themes from this discussion included:

• WestJet’s network operates on a global basis, with Cabin Personnel from any base eligible to be awarded flying across the network  

• The current credit hour system, including provisions such as RIGs and minimum duty period credit, is incorporated into the Company’s planning processes and pairing construction

• The range of flying within Canada, from regional to transcontinental, as well as international flying to Europe, Asia and South America introduces additional complexity in scheduling considerations all while recognizing the unpredictability of aviation as destinations can change quickly as we have seen recently.

The Bargaining Committee has also requested further information from the Company regarding potential future systems changes, as these may directly impact scheduling and, in turn, the broader bargaining process.

Your Bargaining Committee is acutely aware of the day-to-day impact Article 34 has on our membership. This article goes to the core of how work is assigned, how time is valued, and how your schedule affects your quality of life.

We remain committed to our mandate to negotiate improvements that reflect the priorities of the membership, including rest provisions, scheduling flexibility, duty days, and overall working conditions. This work is critical to ensuring a more balanced, predictable, and sustainable scheduling system moving forward.  

Update on Article Progress

Presently with the Union:  

• Article 17 - Accommodations

• Article 21 - Leaves of Absence

• Article 32 - Health and Safety

• Article 35 - Reserve

• Article 46 - Vacation, Statutory Holidays, and GDOs

Presently with the Company

• Article 6 - Scope

• Article 10 - Deduction of Dues

• Article 11 - Union Flight Release

• Article 12 - Union-Management Relations    

• Article 19 - Travel Privileges and Jump Seat Access

• Article 24 - Filling of Vacancies

• Article 28 - Uniforms

• Article 29 - Discipline, Suspensions and Terminations

• Article 30 - Grievance Procedure

• Article 37 - Hotels and Transportation

• Article 38 - Commuting    

• Article 39 - Training

• Article 45 - Expenses

• Article 47 - Layoff and Recall

Article Tracker:

Several Articles remain currently active, with responses pending from both the Union and the Company.  

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ARTICLE TRACKER

We encourage members to review the Article Tracker available on the Local’s website for a detailed overview of progress.

NOTE:  Progress also continues in advancing member priorities through some items that don’t fall within the current article framework of the Collective Agreement. Members will have full access to new articles or LOUs once a tentative agreement is reached, but to maintain confidentiality, these updates will not be included in our weekly communications.

Bargaining Committee Event

As previously communicated, we will be devoting an evening in our next week of bargaining to provide members an opportunity to interact directly with the Committee in an informal setting.

Our events in Vancouver and Toronto were a great success. Thank you to all the members who took the time to attend, and to those who were working but reached out to say they wished they could join us.

We look forward to seeing even more crew members at our upcoming event on April 8th, in Calgary.  

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TO ATTEND

Upcoming Bargaining Dates:

• April 7 to 10 – Calgary

• April 13 to 16 – Calgary

• Future dates as required are with the Company for May and June.  

You can continue to show the Bargaining Committee your support by:

• Wearing your union pin

• Having an Unpaid Work Won’t Fly luggage tag on your bag

• Following the Local’s social media

• Reaching out directly to the Bargaining Committee to address any concerns

• And encouraging your fellow Cabin Crew Members to read their email updates!

In Unity,

WestJet Bargaining Committee

Calgary: shane.campbell@wjcomponent.ca
Vancouver/Edmonton: jeanfrancois.laframboise@wjcomponent.ca
Toronto: justin.patterson@wjcomponent.ca
Winnipeg/Montreal: cailey.millard@wjcomponent.ca