26 February 2024 – Calgary, Alb.—After a vote by the Executive Board of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), the WestJet Encore pilot group received a $1 million grant from ALPA’s “war chest,” known as the Major Contingency Fund (MCF).
This funding will go a long way in supporting the WestJet Encore pilots in their self-help efforts, which could begin as early as April 17, 2024, should conciliation fail to result in a ratified agreement between the pilots and WestJet Encore management.
“Negotiating a contract that will fix the fundamental issues that continue to trouble our airline and make WestJet Encore an airline pilots want to fly for has always been our number one priority, long before formal negotiations ever began,” said Capt. Carin Kenny, chair of the WestJet Encore Master Executive Council. “However, progress at the negotiating table has been hard to come by over the past several months, even since the federal government appointed a conciliator to assist in negotiations in January.”
As negotiations drag along at a slow place, the WestJet Encore pilots continue to seek employment opportunities elsewhere that will provide significant improvements to their career progression, quality of life, and compensation.
“We remain hopeful the two sides will reach an agreement before we have to hold a strike-authorization vote, or file a 72-hour strike notice, but should those situations arise, our pilot group will be fully prepared thanks to the generous contribution of $1 million from ALPA’s MCF,” Kenny continued.
The WestJet Encore pilots are also looking forward to a very public display of pilot unity when they hold their first-ever informational picket on March 22, 2024, at the Calgary International Airport. They will be joined by hundreds of ALPA colleagues to show their management and the public that they stand united in their fight to make WestJet Encore a leader in Canada’s aviation community.
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 ALPA.org.
