Tick-Tock …

Founded in 1931 and representing upwards of 69,000 pilots in the employs of 39 U.S. and Canadian airlines, the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) is the world’s largest pilot union.

On 15 May 2023, WestJet pilots represented by ALPA issued a 72-hour strike notice to both the Calgary-headquartered air-carrier’s management and the Canadian government. The move set in motion a three-day countdown over which WestJet management may either agree to a fair and equitable pilot labor contract or incur crippling operational shutdowns resultant of its pilot cadre collectively availing itself of the full range of options made available under Canada’s Labor Code.

ALPA would have been within its rights to file the 72-hour strike notice over the weekend of 13-14 May; the union refrained from doing so in a show of good faith by which WestJet sustained operations and ALPA and WestJet management were afforded time to review last-minute proposals put forth by both parties.

While progress was made vis-à-vis non-cost items, the two sides remained unable to reach an agreement at once acceptable to the air-carrier and its pilots.

WestJet ALPA Master Executive Council (MEC) chair Captain Bernard Lewall stated: “After nine months of negotiating, management still fails to understand today’s labor market conditions, leading to a mass exodus of our pilots in search of better work opportunities, and more will follow if this agreement does not meet our pilots’ needs. Without the economic and job security improvements our pilots require, WestJet will be parking planes, as they will not have enough pilots to operate them or accomplish its own growth strategy.”

WestJet pilots currently plan to commence a lawful job action at 03:00 ET on the morning of 19 May 2023. Such an action is likely to occasion the grounding of WestJet’s fleet and force a summary and unceremonious shutdown of Canada’s second-largest airline.

Captain Lewall remarked: “Flight disruptions are never an ideal outcome, especially given the tremendous support our guests have shown us, and we want to continue being a major contributor to our company’s success by helping WestJet realize its growth strategy. However, WestJet pilots will withdraw our services to secure a contract that will fix many of the airline’s labor problems and make it a career destination for pilots once again.”

On average, one WestJet pilot leaves the company every 18 hours; most depart to take flying jobs with the air-carrier’s competitors. For purpose of rectifying WestJet’s pilot retention woes, ALPA negotiators continue to submit proposals calling for better job security, industry-standard pay, and schedules sufficiently flexible to allow WestJet aviators better work life balances. Such demands are consistent with collective agreements ALPA-represented pilot groups are currently entering into with competing airlines.

The entirety of ALPA’s more than 69,000 pilots stands behind their WestJet contemporaries as the latter ready themselves for possible legal job action.

Captain Lewall concluded: “We are hopeful today’s strike notice filing will provide management with the incentive to recognize just how dire the situation is and reach an agreement with us. That’s why we will continue to make our negotiators available 24/7 during the remainder of the 72-hour strike notice period.”

FMI: www.alpa.org