WestJet breaks collective agreement with pilots.

[CanadaAir]

WJ already stated its initial plan to reduce the WJ fleet and use Sunwing instead.

This plan can include WJ pilot layoffs. Junior WJ pilots out, senior WJ pilots working junior flying.
WJ pilots and MEC are against this, won’t let Sunwing operate as an internal competitor or result in WJ reductions.

WJ MEC’s plain that scope protections improved not worsened.

MEC’s for all WJ companies pilots same pay & conditions for equal work.
WJ mainline same as Swoop same as Sunwing.

Sunwing pilots can expect transition to ALPA.
The new agreement and salary increases affect Sunwing pilots once they merge with WestJet pilots.

Sunwing pilots stand to improve their salary and lifestyle based on the current negotiation gains.
WJ pilots may have new base or open ports where Sunwing operates, CYQB CYWG

Sunwing, Swoop, WJ pilots can work together for gains.
Don’t let WJ management use pilot groups against each other.
Both company's managers are the ones responsible for not sharing details and hiding plans, don't blame your future coworkers for merger issues.

Although CEO claims WJ’s broke & can’t pay pilots, WJ has money for buying Sunwing and fleet expansion.
WestJet has money for running Swoop, Encore, Sunwing and mainline with duplication of ground staff and managers. Simplifying this can save the company on costs.

Higher wages are possible for all future WestJet pilots. Senior pilots, junior pilots, Swoop, Sunwing or mainline.

Sunwing pilots may find joining the company and union easier if they support their new coworkers. Some Sunwing pilots are already supporting.
Seniority might be less of an issue than with previous mergers, as many Sunwing pilots are junior with only a few years at the company.
Supporting the current WestJet pilots in negotiations will improve the relationships and options on merging seniority.

[BigQ]

Every WG pilot I've discussed this merger with is 100% behind WJ pilots in their negotiations with WJ mgmt. They do not wish to get involved and generally agree there is little if any capacity to do "scab labour" within the WG network. Most European dry-leases are already gone and the C-reg have also started crossing the pond. Soon there will only be 11 or so planes to do 10 planes' worth of work for WG's own flights.

No need to worry about WG being a bargaining chip. The pilots are on the WJ pilots' side.

[CanadaAir]

"Mark Taylor, president of the Unifor union local that represents around 470 Sunwing pilots, said he was worried about the implications of the deal for members.

“On first glance, I would say the conditions offer us nothing and likely leave us very exposed to whipsawing,” he said, referring to contract negotiations with WestJet and Sunwing pilots. “It's basically when two groups are played off against each other for the same work.”

"He also said that Sunwing pilots based in cities such as Quebec City, Winnipeg and Edmonton are worried about more centralized operations.

“The last thing we want is for everyone to have to work at Calgary or Toronto.”Taylor said it was “ridiculous” that the government has to mandate better service as part of its approval. “The government's already had the chance to do that, and they haven't.”




When merging ALPA could negotiate new bases in Quebec City, Winnipeg and Edmonton.
WJ pilots and SW pilots want these bases.

Benefits to working along, not letting the company whipsaw.
Thanks to SW pilots supporting.

[boeingboy]

Sunwing will never do mainline flying - just like Swoop wont do it.

If there are any combining down the road - it will be with Swoop and not mainline.

[vrefplus5]

“…..just like Swoop won’t do it.” Or did you mean….”Swoop won’t do additional mainline flying anymore.”?

Were YYZ to…..PUJ, KIN, MBJ, CUN, PVR, SJD, LAS, FLL, YHZ, YXX, etc….not mainline routes? YEG to….”put airport here”? It’s a long list, and growing.

I’m probably not following too well, but fairly sure WSW will capture more mainline work if Alexis has his way.

[CaptDukeNukem]

Sunwing will never do mainline flying - just like Swoop wont do it.

If there are any combining down the road - it will be with Swoop and not mainline.

Yea I’m curious too, as to what “mainline” flying means to you.

[kiaszceski]

Sunwing will never do mainline flying - just like Swoop wont do it.

If there are any combining down the road - it will be with Swoop and not mainline.

Yea I’m curious too, as to what “mainline” flying means to you.

I'm not sure...

[CanadaAir]

One OC

WestJet MEC PIREP Podcast - Episode 19 - An Agreement In Principle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5_X-sRici8

Not ideal to force new hires onto a pension.

Deadhead pay?

[MaxAuto]

WG pilots don't want to do "mainline flying". Steven Hunter needs a dedicated fleet to serve to the tour side of the operation. He's not interested sched mainline flying.

[Maritimer]

WG pilots don't want to do "mainline flying". Steven Hunter needs a dedicated fleet to serve to the tour side of the operation. He's not interested sched mainline flying.

Steven Hunter also doesn't run his own show anymore. He is the one who is told, not the one who tells.

Some WG folk seem to have a hard time understanding this.

[Bede]

Not ideal to force new hires onto a pension.

Why not?

[MaxAuto]

WG pilots don't want to do "mainline flying". Steven Hunter needs a dedicated fleet to serve to the tour side of the operation. He's not interested sched mainline flying.

Steven Hunter also doesn't run his own show anymore. He is the one who is told, not the one who tells.

Some WG folk seem to have a hard time understanding this.

Hunter will still run Sunwing Airlines, Sunwing Vacation, Selloff Vacations, and now WestJet Vacation. Steven Hunter approached WestJet for the deal. He said it himself when he announced it last year in the emergency townhall. He said he had been pursuing WestJet for years which was the smoking gun into the negotiating in bad faith investigation. Steven has a seat at the table at Onex.

[Maritimer]

WG pilots don't want to do "mainline flying". Steven Hunter needs a dedicated fleet to serve to the tour side of the operation. He's not interested sched mainline flying.

Steven Hunter also doesn't run his own show anymore. He is the one who is told, not the one who tells.

Some WG folk seem to have a hard time understanding this.

Hunter will still run Sunwing Airlines, Sunwing Vacation, Selloff Vacations, and now WestJet Vacation. Steven Hunter approached WestJet for the deal. He said it himself when he announced it last year in the emergency townhall. He said he had been pursuing WestJet for years which was the smoking gun into the negotiating in bad faith investigation. Steven has a seat at the table at Onex.

And he will follow his orders like the rest of management UNDER Onex/WestJet.

He is 100% not an equal, if that is what you are trying to infer

[boeingboy]

And he will follow his orders like the rest of management UNDER Onex/WestJet.

He is 100% not an equal, if that is what you are trying to infer

He's not inferring that at all - however as the CEO of the new company he has a big say in what happens - dont forget - the devil is in the details as to what he wanted when the sale went through. I'm sure there was a long list of things he wanted out of the sale or he would walk away. This was Steven Hunters deal, he did not have to sell to anyone....he was in the drivers seat the whole time.

[CanadaAir]

Not ideal to force new hires onto a pension.

Why not?

Sets up division when new hires are treated different than current pilots.
If there's the option for current pilots, then new hires should have an option.
Some new hires will go for it, others no.

[Bede]

Not ideal to force new hires onto a pension.

Why not?

Sets up division when new hires are treated different than current pilots.
If there's the option for current pilots, then new hires should have an option.
Some new hires will go for it, others no.

Good point. However, employees have a history of having an inability to sufficiently plan for their retirement. Pilots are no different. People will be mad at first and then be thankful when they retire.