'selective minority' best watch their six

[Airband]

WestJet CEO sounds note of caution with pilots

April 17, 2009 - Globe and Mail
Brent Jang - Transportation Reporter

WestJet Airlines Ltd. WJA chief executive officer Sean Durfy is urging pilots to find common ground with management as a three-year agreement is set to expire April 30. Mr. Durfy said the Calgary-based company is committed to bargaining in good faith with the non-union WestJet Pilots Association. But he sounded a note of caution. "I am also alarmed by some of the feedback I have received by what I believe to be a selective minority," he wrote in a memo to pilots this week. "I am committed, as I hope you are, to maintaining our wonderful corporate culture and competitive advantage."

[NorthSky]

Can someone plz enlighten what some of this 'alarming feedback' may have been from the 'selective minority?'

[mattedfred]

it would be nice to read the entire memo from durfy before forming an opinion

however, referring to a selective minority when feedback is negative is one of managements many tools. discount the negative feedback in order to minimize it's effect.

[Azure]

Well, speaking for my husband who hadn't even voted, on the vote that was cancelled, Durf has no idea how many pilots would have said 'NO'. I don't think it was a select few. That's ok now, the team is back and focused on the new contract, I have faith that they will come up with something acceptable.

[Jastapilot]

Well, speaking for my husband who hadn't even voted, on the vote that was cancelled, Durf has no idea how many pilots would have said 'NO'. I don't think it was a select few. That's ok now, the team is back and focused on the new contract, I have faith that they will come up with something acceptable.

I read the memo the same way but I don't think the 'no' voters were the minority he meant.

[Rotten Apple #1]

Azure, why the need to speak for your husband? Did he lose a set on the way to the keyboard?

I mean, does the agreement have to be acceptable to him, or to you?

Have you ever worked at an airline? Just curious. Just curious what you think are acceptable pilot employment terms.

Go on. Enlighten us.

[sickofstupidity]

Seems like the "honeymoon" is over...how's the KoolAid taste these days? Mind you it could be worse, Cx is back to their old tricks. You should see the size of the pineapple they are trying to shove up our a**es. I'm sure I'll get flamed for this but I have to say it seems almost poetic to me, this "problem", after all the talk on here about the great relationship between management and pilots and how there could never conceivably be any problems. It's just like assuming you are immune from any financial problems these days, foolish. Anyways good luck with 787's, Dash-8's, airline world domination and all that.

[KAG]

Koolaid still tastes great, thanks for asking. I'd take our current contract negotiation atmosphere any day over what I’ve seen at other companies. I can still walk into Durf’s office and ask him questions or vent, can you do the same? These are negotiations; there will be back and forth banter.
Nothing to see here.

[complexintentions]

wow, jonny d...such aggressive personal attacks on not just one of your colleagues but his significant other! Spouses are not affected by their partner's employment terms? Is she not allowed to comment or hold an opinion? What about voting or driving or short skirts?

Enlighten us.

[Azure]

Azure, why the need to speak for your husband? Did he lose a set on the way to the keyboard?

I mean, does the agreement have to be acceptable to him, or to you?

Have you ever worked at an airline? Just curious. Just curious what you think are acceptable pilot employment terms.

Go on. Enlighten us.

Actually John, my husband has never visited an aviation forum in his life. The only time he's ever seen one is when I drag him over to oggle one of Canada Eh's excellent avatars. Other than that, I'm the one in this house who keeps their finger on the pulse of this industry. Heck, I even have to remind him to check his WJ mail before he leaves because stuff piles up so fast in there.

I had 5 days to read that contract before he got home and with the explanations on the WJPA forum being a great help in understanding some of the language, when he asked I said it's not great, but I was thinking, yes. He, himself although he hadn't actually voted, decided, no. "I like to think that he is so madly in love with me that those 2 extra days a year away from me would make him say no." :lol

Now back to the point of this thread, I do really hope that the no votes were'nt automatically assumed as pro-union votes! Gosh darn no way in hell will that happen with the current pilot group. Status quo is fine for most until the details are worked out.

Glad you quit smoking John, but damn, a bit bitchy?

[frog legs]

Azure, why the need to speak for your husband? Did he lose a set on the way to the keyboard?

I mean, does the agreement have to be acceptable to him, or to you?

Have you ever worked at an airline? Just curious. Just curious what you think are acceptable pilot employment terms.

Go on. Enlighten us.

Jonny, stop being a tool. Didn't your daddy teach you that picking a fight with a girl is unmanly?

That first agreement sucked, and you know it. When my wife saw the first agreement, she said it was crap too. This gal just has the balls to state it. Her hubby probably thinks aviation forums are lame. Which they are. Ironic, isn't it?

[Azure]

Thanks Complex and Tony for the backup. At first I wasn't really bothered by his statement, but then this evening I felt something akin to what Widow may have felt over the last few years. What? Your a pilot's wife? You know nothing!

She sure proved that's wrong.

[Jastapilot]

Azure, I'm about 90% positive Durf's comments had nothing to do with the no votes. I am also 90% sure that there was a majority of no votes, which leaves the real minority... the few bitching we need a union or something like that. At least I hope that's what he meant, because, if all that was about the no vote, we really do have some issues.

[Azure]

Fine, lets see what happes.

Azure, I'm about 90% positive Durf's comments had nothing to do with the no votes. I am also 90% sure that there was a majority of no votes, which leaves the real minority... the few bitching we need a union or something like that. At least I hope that's what he meant, because, if all that was about the no vote, we really do have some issues.

Union? Ha Ha HA

[stickontheice]

Azure I think its great that you've read the agreement and help your husband get engaged in the process but I am a little uncomfortable with you being on the WJPA forum.

That is an internal forum for pilots and although I am sure many people outside the pilot group see the comments I don't think people who aren't part of the pilot group should have free access to it. Have to admit that makes me a little uneasy. I hope that you're not posting there on his behalf.

Also I think posting your opinion on S.Durf's letter on a public forum is approaching the line when you're part of the WestJet family. That's internal business and should be kept that way.

[truedude]

Oh looks like the communist sensors are out. I guess when your part of the "Westjet Family" your no longer entitled to any sort of free speech. The lengths your company and some employees go to, to ensure things are kept secret, and then the way people jump on the few who actually post their opinion is just incredible. I can understand some need for privacy, but get over yourself... your not negotiating a nuclear disarming.

When management starts to issue a letter like that.. they are no longer playing as a "team"

[WJ700]

That's funny... my wife cast my 'two letter' vote before I had a chance too. And Johnny... as much as I like and respect you as a colleague; you must have taken up glue after quitting smoking.

truedude... a little harsh, but maybe necessary. I think the biggest disconnect with WestJet pilots is understanding Union not being ALPA, CAW or Teamsters, but being still being the WJPA. My personal belief is we should fix what's there instead of go with an off the shelf union like ALPA. If we're to work with a 'Company Union' it had better be made to be better than the other options out there. At the moment its proven to be terrible; and I think the current WJPA reps see that and have it high on their list to repair.

[mattedfred]

did the westjet pilots not vote via secret ballot?

was there a running tally of votes prior to a cutoff date for voting?

was the vote canceled prior to the cutoff date?

we vote via secret ballot and the results aren't tabulated until the voting period has closed. each member gets one vote. if the TA is not approved by the majority of the membership then both sides can go back to the negotiating table to try again.

[mattedfred]

That's funny... my wife cast my 'two letter' vote before I had a chance too. And Johnny... as much as I like and respect you as a colleague; you must have taken up glue after quitting smoking.

truedude... a little harsh, but maybe necessary. I think the biggest disconnect with WestJet pilots is understanding Union not being ALPA, CAW or Teamsters, but being still being the WJPA. My personal belief is we should fix what's there instead of go with an off the shelf union like ALPA. If we're to work with a 'Company Union' it had better be made to be better than the other options out there. At the moment its proven to be terrible; and I think the current WJPA reps see that and have it high on their list to repair.

why not form your own WJPA and sign a service agreement with a national trade union? the legal and technical services are the most important part if you already have committed reps. i think thee CFAU does it this way.

[jjj]

Why is this being discussed here friends?

I think this discussion should remain internal until the agreement is hashed out.

This discussion does nothing positive.

When the dust settles - all the little details will be available to our colleagues at other airlines and hopefully it will be something we can all be proud of.

[Four1oh]

Fine, lets see what happes.

Azure, I'm about 90% positive Durf's comments had nothing to do with the no votes. I am also 90% sure that there was a majority of no votes, which leaves the real minority... the few bitching we need a union or something like that. At least I hope that's what he meant, because, if all that was about the no vote, we really do have some issues.

Union? Ha Ha HA

What's so funny??

[Airband]

I think this discussion should remain internal until the agreement is hashed out.

This discussion does nothing positive.

[tonysoprano]

[sepia]

Durfy's letter was referenced in the Globe and Mail. It's not exactly top secret when Brent Jang has his grubby mitts on it.

[C-FABH]

Durfy's letter was referenced in the Globe and Mail. It's not exactly top secret when Brent Jang has his grubby mitts on it.

No surprise there, I'm afraid. Guess he wasn't CC'd on any interesting emails at Air Canada this week