Bargaining Update #14: Five Months at the Table - Where We Are

Dear Members,

The Bargaining Committee wishes to acknowledge and congratulate our Mainline counterparts on their outstanding ratification result, achieving a 90.2% in favour of their second Collective Agreement!

Their achievement reflects the strength and unity of their membership, as well as the significant gains secured through the bargaining process.  In light of these successes, we want to assure our Encore members that we are actively pursuing many of the same improvements and advancements at our bargaining table in line with member identified priorities.

As negotiations continue, the Bargaining Committee wants to provide a direct update on where we are in the process and offer insight into the challenges we continue to face at the table.

Guided by your Priority Survey feedback, input from members with lived experience, and recurring concerns raised through union committees, your Bargaining Committee continues to put meaningful proposals forward that drive change for CA2. We remain committed to securing the strongest possible agreement for our membership.

We want to provide members with a clear update on the current state of negotiations, the priorities guiding our proposals, and the challenges that continue to affect progress at the table.

This week, we submitted 10 articles to the Company, our largest proposal package to date in this round of bargaining. This significant step keeps the pressure on the Company, addresses key issues, and helps move negotiations forward as we work toward a fair agreement for our members.  These include:

• Article 6 - Scope

• Article 7 – Classification

• Article 11 – Union Flight Release

• Article 12 – Union-Management Relations

• Article 15 – Seniority

• Article 17 – Accommodation

• Article 18 – Benefits

• Article 20 - Sick & Personal Leave

• Article 21 – Leaves of Absences

• Article 25 – Language Qualifications

This week we have reached Agreement in Principle on 4 additional articles:

• Article 22 – Ad Hoc Assignments

• Article 24 – Filling of Vacancies

• Article 32 – Health and

• Article 40 – Charter Operations & Special Purpose Flights

As noted above, several articles remain with the Company while your Bargaining Committee continues to work through outstanding articles and provide responses within a reasonable timeframe. As of now, there are approximately 15 articles with the Company and 1 article is with the Union.

How You Can Support Your Bargaining Committee:

• Wear your union pin;

• Display your Unpaid Work Won’t Fly luggage tag;

• Follow the Local’s social media;

• Reach out directly to the Committee with questions or concerns;

• Encourage fellow Cabin Crew Members to read their updates.

Your unity and visible support for the bargaining process at this stage is essential.

We want to be direct: Bargaining is only going to become more challenging, and this is where outcomes are determined. Our strength at the table comes directly from visible support of our membership. That means staying engaged, interacting with updates, and demonstrating solidarity by wearing your pin. When participation declines, it weakens our position and makes it more difficult to achieve the improvements we are all working towards.

The Bargaining Committee cannot do this work alone.  We all have a role to play in supporting the bargaining process and strengthening our collective voice.

Together, we are building the foundation for a stronger, fairer, and more sustainable future for all WestJet Cabin Crew Members.

In Unity,

WestJet Encore Bargaining Committee

Alia Hussain - alia.hussain@wjcomponent.ca
Jennifer Kuhnert - jennifer.kuhnert@wjcomponent.ca
Natasha Selby - natasha.selby@wjcomponent.ca
Maria Gaw - maria.gaw@wjcomponent.ca