Dear Members,
Your Bargaining Committee met with the Company this week and is pleased to announce that we have reached an Agreement in Principle on Article 49 – Severance Pay. This brings the total number of articles agreed to in principle to 36 out of 52.
There are currently 10 articles still under discussion, with 7 currently with the Company and 3 with your Bargaining Committee.
As members can see on the Negotiations Tracker, progress has slowed significantly in recent weeks. While articles continue to be exchanged between the parties, both the pace of movement and the number of meaningful pass backs have decreased. As a result, your Bargaining Committee is carefully considering the options available to us and determining the most effective path forward to advance negotiations.
The time to act is now, and every member has an important role to play. Your Bargaining Committee may be at the table, but the overwhelming majority of our bargaining power comes from you, the membership.
We are bargaining for the priorities you identified, but without your engagement, solidarity, and willingness to stand together, our ability to achieve meaningful change is limited.
That means getting involved, staying informed, and making your voice heard. Our new Encore Member Engagement and Strike Committee (MESC) has set up an Instagram page that is now set up! Follow @encorecabincrew, engage with our updates, share information with your colleagues, and encourage others to do the same.
The Bargaining Committee cannot deliver the agreement you deserve on its own. Our strength comes from you, and the more united and engaged we are, the stronger our position becomes at the bargaining table.
The WestJet Encore MESC Committee has been activated. MESC is actively looking for more member mobilizers to participate. The link to sign up for MESC is here. Also, there are 3 MESC training dates next week: November 4th, 5th and 6th, all are welcome to participate in training, sign up here.
FLOW
We would also like to take a moment to acknowledge that flow remains an important priority for our membership.
As previously communicated, the Local Executive Committee (LEC) has the authority to negotiate flow on behalf of both the Encore and Mainline groups. A single bargaining committee cannot negotiate on behalf of both bargaining units.
To support this work, the LEC is developing separate surveys for both Mainline and Encore members to understand the priorities and interests of each group. The needs of Encore members may differ from those of Mainline members, and it is important that both groups have the opportunity to provide meaningful input.
Once these surveys are finalized and ready for distribution, the LEC will communicate the next steps and continue to keep members informed throughout the process.
How You Can Continue to Support Bargaining
As bargaining progresses, your support remains essential to the work being done at the table. Members can continue to show their support by:
Ensuring your fellow CCMs are signed up to receive union communications through Union Email Sign-Up.
Remaining engaged and united throughout the bargaining process by wearing your union pin and unpaid work luggage tag.
Following, liking, and sharing our content on Facebook and the New @encorecabincrew on Instagram to help keep members informed and engaged.
Look for opportunities to join the MESC Committee here.
Thank you for your continued support, participation, and solidarity.
We ARE Encore.
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