CALGARY, AB, June 14, 2024 /CNW/ – Today, the second collective bargaining agreement between WestJet and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the certified union representing Encore pilots was ratified.
“We are pleased to have reached an agreement that reflects the instrumental value and contributions of our Encore pilots,” said Diederik Pen, President of WestJet Airlines and Group Chief Operating Officer. “This agreement reflects our commitment to our Encore pilots and their contributions to the WestJet Group, as we continue to invest in our growth and Encore operations, which provide critical connectivity to regions across Western Canada.”
About WestJet
In 28 years of serving Canadians, WestJet has cut airfares in half and increased the flying population in Canada to more than 50 per cent. WestJet launched in 1996 with three aircraft, 250 employees and five destinations, growing over the years to more than 180 aircraft, 14,000 employees and more than 100 destinations in 26 countries.
For more information about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com.
First Collective Agreement Addresses Concerns of All PAL Aerospace Pilots
St. John’s, N.L.—PAL Aerospace pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), have reached a tentative agreement with management on a new employment contract. The three-year deal was unanimously approved by PAL Aerospace ALPA leadership on May 31 and contains significant improvements to scheduling, working conditions, compensation, job security, and benefits.
The new agreement underscores the complexity and significance of representing a diverse group of professionals operating across multiple divisions and geographic locations. Over the next few weeks, the agreement will be shared with the entire pilot group, and then a vote will take place. If ratified, this will be the PAL Aerospace pilots’ first Collective Agreement.
“Over the last few years, our team has been negotiating to ensure this agreement encompasses the vast complexity of combining the multiple divisions and types of operations in which the company operates into this agreement. The PAL Aerospace pilots now have the benefit of a contract spanning all the divisions of PAL Aerospace,” said Capt. Stephen Young, chair of the PAL Aerospace ALPA Master Executive Council (MEC). “Our pilots ultimately have an agreement that provides well deserved improvements to compensation, work rules, and quality of life. Our pilots will also have the security of a seniority-based system throughout bases and divisions across the company.”
“Congratulations to the PAL Aerospace MEC on securing their first contract in the history of the airline,” said Capt. Jason Ambrosi, ALPA president. “This achievement reflects the dedication and hard work of the PAL Aerospace pilots and their commitment to enhancing their professional standards and quality of life. It is now up to them to decide whether or not to ratify this agreement.”
“We applaud PAL Aerospace pilot leadership on their historic first contract,” said Capt. Tim Perry, ALPA Canada president. “The uniqueness of PAL Aerospace’s operations is reflected in the terms of this tentative agreement, and it also serves to improve pilot recruitment and retention, as well as advancing the aviation profession in Canada.”
Young added, “With our diverse operations and pilot bases in St. John’s, Halifax, Campbell River, Curacao, and the United Kingdom, we secured a contract that recognizes and addresses the needs of all of our pilots. This new agreement will create a better future for the PAL Aerospace pilots and put us on par with our colleagues at other Canadian regional carriers. This will help with pilot recruitment and retention while making us stronger and more competitive within the industry.”
PAL Aerospace is part of the PAL Group of Companies, a subsidiary of Exchange Income Corporation. PAL Aerospace operates airborne maritime surveillance, managed jets, and air ambulance and supports the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard. The company also provides airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support for the United Kingdom to address illegal migration and small-boat crossings.
Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 77,000 pilots at 41 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit ALPA.org
A work stoppage could occur as early as Saturday, June 1, 2024, at 6 p.m. MT, unless a deal is reached
CALGARY, AB, May 29, 2024 /CNW/ – WestJet today has issued an advance lockout notice to the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), the union that represents WestJet Encore pilots. As a result of today’s lockout notice, a work stoppage could occur as early as Saturday, June 1, 2024, at 6 p.m. MT, unless a deal is reached. The announcement comes following the failed ratification of the tentative agreement between the two parties on Friday, May 10, 2024.
“The decision to issue notice was not made lightly, and we sincerely apologize for the uncertainty this causes for our guests and the Western Canadian regions that rely on WestJet Encore service; we are hopeful that guest disruption can still be prevented,” said Diederik Pen, President of WestJet Airline and Group Chief Operating Officer. “Our tentative agreement represented a robust negotiation process that got us to our final offer. Given this, over the past two weeks, we have been working diligently to understand where we could better align priorities within the financial framework presented. Unfortunately, given the pace of progress and our steadfast priority to protect the summer travel plans of Canadians, a lockout notice was required to provide certainty for our guests and employees by bringing this to a final resolution.”
The WestJet Group has been in active labour negotiations with ALPA since September 2023. The rejected tentative agreement presented an offer that would make WestJet Encore pilots the highest paid regional pilots in Canada, while delivering industry leading work-life balance standards and commitments to career progression.
“We sincerely value our Encore pilots and the service they facilitate, which enables us to provide critical air connectivity to regional communities across Western Canada. We are unwaveringly committed to reaching an agreement to prevent travel disruption; however, we are equally committed to holding firm on what is reasonable as we cannot sacrifice our ability to provide affordable air travel for the millions of guests and communities we serve or our responsibility to provide job security for our employees across the WestJet Group,” concluded Pen.
WestJet Encore lockout details
Issuing a lockout notice does not mean travel disruption will occur. However, in the coming days, the WestJet Group will take all necessary actions to manage the impacts as much as possible, including:
Beginning preparations to operate a reduced WestJet Encore schedule.
Proactively managing changes and cancellations, to ensure the ability to communicate with guests in advance of their flight.
Providing flexible change and cancel options for those who wish to make alternative arrangements.
Please visit WestJet’s Guest Updates page for more information regarding flight status, travel changes and applicable dates for flexible change and cancel options.
About WestJet
In 28 years of serving Canadians, WestJet has cut airfares in half and increased the flying population in Canada to more than 50 per cent. WestJet launched in 1996 with three aircraft, 250 employees and five destinations, growing over the years to more than 180 aircraft, 14,000 employees and more than 100 destinations in 26 countries.
For more information about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com.
Pilots Insist They Want a Fair Contract, Not a Strike
CALGARY, ALB.—At 3:00 p.m. MT on May 29, WestJet Encore pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), issued a 72-hour strike notice to WestJet Encore management and the government. This started the clock on a 72-hour countdown to negotiate a fair and equitable contract before the pilots can legally utilize all the options available to them under the Canada Labour Code.
After two weeks of bargaining following the pilots’ rejection of a tentative agreement (TA), some progress has been made; however, both sides remain apart on addressing the issues of central importance to the pilot group.
“After eight months of negotiating, and a failed TA, unfortunately management has not recognized the pilots’ needs. We have expressed to management that we are willing to work with them to further address the issues that clearly remain for our pilots,” said Capt. Carin Kenny, chair of the WestJet Encore ALPA Master Executive Council. “Until WestJet Encore management negotiates a contract that recognizes the current labour market conditions in Canada’s airline industry, and addresses the needs of our pilots, management will continue to struggle to attract and retain the well-trained, highly skilled pilots required to help our airline be successful.”
“Flight disruptions are never an ideal outcome for any pilot or their passengers. Our goal has never been to strike; our goal remains to negotiate a fair contract that works for both parties,” Capt. Kenny continued. “However, we are ready for all outcomes, should the Company continue to ignore the value and experience we bring to our airline and ignore what is required to ensure that current and future pilots see the WestJet Group as a career destination.”
ALPA remains committed to the bargaining process. If no agreement has been reached by the end of the 72-hour strike notice, the pilots will be in a legal position to commence job action on June 1. If that is the case, the pilots’ strike centers in Calgary and Toronto are now fully operational and staffed by dedicated pilot volunteers.
Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 77,000 pilots at 41 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit ALPA.org
May28, 2024—TORONTO—This morning, Air Canada pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), are standing together, strong, and unified, in downtown Toronto, where the union’s contract discussions for a world-class contract have stalled with Air Canada management. This picketing event demonstrates Air Canada pilots’ resolve and solidarity in achieving an agreement that recognizes the pilots’ contributions and value to the airline and their passengers.
“This week marks more than 240 days since our stale and outdated contract expired,” said F/O Charlene Hudy, Air Canada ALPA Master Executive Council (MEC) chair, during the event. “Air Canada has the opportunity to recognize our value by making important improvements to our contract which must include closing the significant wage gap between the United States and Canada. If they fail to do so, we all will lose, and Air Canada will no longer attract and retain the pilots they require.”
In January, ALPA and Air Canada entered into a mediation protocol agreement with a professional mediator to facilitate negotiations. This is the final week of negotiations scheduled under the protocol agreement. Since entering the mediation protocol agreement, the two parties have been successful in reaching some agreements, however, numerous items remain outstanding. With only days left in mediation, Air Canada pilots are sending a unified message to management that it’s time to deliver a world-class contract they have earned.
“We’ve heard Air Canada’s ambitious growth plans during their recent quarterly financial updates. Ambitious airline growth plans require a strong and engaged pilot group, because without pilots who are valued, there is no growth plan,” said Hudy.
Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 77,000 pilots at 42 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit ALPA.org
CALGARY, ALB.—Capt. Carin Kenny, chair of the WestJet Encore Master Executive Council, issued the following statement after WestJet Encore pilot leaders, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), voted to approve a full tentative agreement with management.
“After seven months of tough but respectful negotiating, we are pleased to announce we have reached a tentative agreement with management. This tentative agreement goes a long way towards addressing many of the long-standing issues for WestJet Encore pilots by bringing our wages and working conditions significantly more in line with those of our regional pilot counterparts across the country.
“Our goal has always been to reach an agreement that will help solve many of the airline’s pilot attraction and retention issues, provide industry-standard wages and working conditions, and provide a better work/life balance for our pilots.
“This tentative agreement delivers on providing better job security, industry-standard pay, and more flexible schedules to allow for a better work-life balance—consistent with the collective agreements of our regional counterparts across Canada.
“WestJet Encore was once seen as the first step to a successful career within the WestJet Group. For the past several years, we have become a training ground for pilots who leave to find better career opportunities elsewhere. This contract will go a long way towards changing that, making the WestJet Group a desired career choice once again. Over the coming days, our WestJet Encore membership will begin voting on the tentative agreement.”
Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 77,000 pilots at 41 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit ALPA.org
Negotiations Continue to Reach a Full Tentative Agreement
8 April 2024 – CALGARY, AB—WestJet Encore pilot leaders from the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) have voted to approve an agreement in principle (AIP) with WestJet Encore management, following more than seven months of negotiations. Discussions are ongoing as the parties work to finalize contract language for a full tentative agreement (TA) for membership ratification.
“After several consecutive days of late-stage negotiating, progress was made on a number of key issues including compensation and scheduling,” said Capt. Carin Kenny, chair of the WestJet Encore ALPA Master Executive Council (MEC). “We are pleased to announce an agreement in principle that goes a long way toward bringing the WestJet Encore pilots in line with our regional flying counterparts across Canada.”
While representatives for both sides have reached an AIP on most of the terms and conditions, contract language is still being finalized.
“Throughout the negotiating process, management’s refusal to grasp the current labour market conditions in Canada’s aviation sector resulted in a mass exodus of pilots in search of better work opportunities,” continued Kenny. “It is significant that management now recognizes a contract without the required economic and scheduling improvements would result in a continuation of the current pilot attraction and retention crisis at the airline. “
Flight disruptions are never an ideal outcome for any pilot or their passengers; that’s why the primary goal of the pilots has always been to reach an agreement and not go on strike. The pilot group will continue to make its negotiators available until a TA is reached.
Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 77,000 pilots at 41 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit ALPA.org
St. John’s, N.L.—PAL Aerospace pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), yesterday filed a Notice of Dispute and Request for Conciliation Assistance with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service with regard to collective bargaining at their company. The federal conciliation process allows the PAL Aerospace pilot group the opportunity to seek government assistance to secure their first collective agreement with their employer. The pilots and management began formal negotiations in March 2021.
“Although progress has been made over the last three years with a majority of the contract tentatively agreed upon, the process has slowed to the point where it has now been many months since we’ve had any positive movement toward finalizing our first collective agreement. In some cases, management has gone backwards from previously agreed-upon topics,” said Capt. Stephen Young, chair of the PAL Aerospace ALPA Master Executive Council. “We are incredibly frustrated with the tempo and management’s approach to this process, which led to our decision to seek government assistance to conclude negotiations.”
With this request for conciliation, the Minister of Labour now has 15 days to appoint a conciliation officer. Once appointed, the conciliator will work with the parties for 60 days to reach an agreement. If both parties remain at an impasse following conciliation (and unless the parties agree to extend conciliation), a 21-day cooling-off period would begin before the parties can engage in self-help.
“As the aviation industry continues to improve, our pilots are stuck working with outdated wages and working conditions, as we are among some of the lowest paid pilots in the country,” Young remarked. “While continuing to help the airline earn a profit, pilots are operating understaffed and are unfairly compensated compared to other pilots in Canada. Many of our pilots are highly specialized for the diversity of our operations and are not adequately compensated to reflect their experience and skills. PAL Aerospace pilots will seek better employment opportunities elsewhere unless management quickly focuses on improving our pilots’ compensation, ability to utilize seniority across internal company divisions, and providing basic improvements to our working conditions.”
Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 77,000 pilots at 42 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit ALPA.org
CALGARY, Alb.—The WestJet Encore pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), today filed a request for conciliation assistance with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service with regard to collective bargaining at their airline.
The federal conciliation process allows the WestJet Encore pilot group the opportunity to seek government assistance to reach an agreement with the Company on their second collective agreement. WestJet Encore pilots and management began formal negotiations in September 2023.
“Progress was made in the early stages of the negotiating process, with a robust exchange of proposals and tentative agreements on relatively noncomplicated sections of the collective agreement, however, the parties still remain far apart on multiple key issues,” said Capt. Carin Kenny, chair of the WestJet Encore Master Executive Council. “Momentum at the negotiating table has come to a near standstill since talks shifted to larger, more significant contract sections, including pay and scope.”
After months of negotiating, management still fails to understand the fundamental fact that without any drastic improvement on career progression, seniority, and career recognition, there is little stopping WestJet Encore pilots from seeking better employment opportunities.
Membership survey data clearly shows WestJet Encore pilots are looking to be part of a company that values the talent and experience they bring to the workplace. The pilots are consistently advocating for enhanced working conditions, assured career progression, and overdue recognition within the WestJet group. The pilots have provided solutions to the Company which thus far have fallen on deaf ears.
“We continue to face numerous setbacks to our careers as WestJet Encore pilots. It’s clear that our management refuses to remain accountable for their missteps,” Kenny continued. “Despite preferring to have a career within the WestJet group of companies, experienced pilots are leaving due to the poor wages, working conditions, and unknown career progression. Why wouldn’t our employer work with us to fix the fundamental issues plaguing our airline?”
With this request for conciliation, the minister of Labour now has 15 days to appoint a conciliation officer. Once appointed, the officer will work with the parties for 60 days to reach an agreement. If both parties remain at an impasse following this period, a 21-day cooling-off period begins before the parties can engage in self-help.
Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 77,000 pilots at 43 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit the ALPA Canada website at alpacanada.ca or follow us on Twitter @ALPACanada.
Airline to begin integration of ultra-low-cost subsidiary, Swoop into WestJet
CALGARY, AB, June 9, 2023 /CNW/ – Today, the second collective bargaining agreement between WestJet and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the certified union representing WestJet and Swoop pilots, was ratified.
“The WestJet Group is pleased to have reached an industry-leading agreement in negotiation with ALPA that recognizes the value and instrumental contributions of our current and future pilots,” said Alexis von Hoensbroech, WestJet Group, Chief Executive Officer. “This agreement bolsters our ability to provide certainty and career opportunities across our organization for years to come while ensuring the competitive sustainability of the WestJet Group.”
The agreement is in effect from January 1, 2023, and will be in place until December 31, 2026.
As negotiated in the collective agreement, the WestJet Group will now begin integration efforts of its ultra-low-cost airline, Swoop. Through an expedited process, the airline anticipates a full integration into its mainline operations by the end of October. To avoid traveller impact, Swoop will operate its existing network through to the end of its published schedule on October 28. Swoop employees will move to WestJet.
“The WestJet Group is confident in the outcome of this negotiated decision and the path forward to integrate Swoop into WestJet’s operations,” continued von Hoensbroech. “We continue our strategy toward providing reliable, affordable travel across the WestJet Group, leveraging the valuable experiences and learnings from the Swoop business model. This integration will enhance our ability to serve a broader spectrum of guests. Instead of only 16 aircraft serving the ultra-low-cost market, each aircraft, in our 180-strong fleet, will offer ultra-affordable travel options through to a premium inflight experience.”
The WestJet Group is committed to ongoing engagement with valued communities and stakeholders to ensure that the airline continues to provide critical and affordable air travel to communities across Canada.
About WestJet
In 27 years of serving Canadians, WestJet has cut airfares in half and increased the flying population in Canada to more than 50 per cent. WestJet launched in 1996 with three aircraft, 250 employees and five destinations, growing over the years to more than 180 aircraft,14,000 employees and more than 110 destinations in 24 countries.
