WestJet is calling the results of a strike vote by its pilots “a common step” in negotiations.
The Airline Pilots Association (ALPA) representing WestJet pilots announced 18APR that its members “overwhelmingly” voted for strike action, with 93 per cent voting in favour. It says nearly all of its 1600 members - 95 per cent - voted.
WestJet and Swoop pilots sent a strong message to management with an overwhelming vote of support for lawful job action should a negotiated settlement not be reached by May 16.#WestJetPilots #WeAreReady #showUsAfuture pic.twitter.com/EN9U6n8GJ1
— WestJet ALPA Pilots (@WestJetALPA) April 18, 2023
That’s a clear mandate for the union, but it’s still negotiating with the airline.
As Open Jaw has reported, the union is keeping a careful eye on the calendar in its efforts to pressure WestJet as it continues negotiations.
The strike vote was called so that, now that the vote has passed, a federal conciliation process continues until 24APR, followed by a three-week cooling off period. If no deal is struck by the end of that time, the union would be able to strike - just before the MAY long weekend and the traditional start to summer peak season.
The negotiations involving WestJet and Swoop pilots have gone on for over six months, with wages, work conditions, and scheduling at issue, along with parity between pilots of different WestJet brands, especially as the acquisition of Sunwing has now been approved by regulators.
Bernard Lewall, who heads the union's WestJet contingent, told CBC, "If you're trying to attract new pilots or retain the experienced ones that we have, there's got to be some definition of a career path for them. And because there's three different airlines under the umbrella of WestJet flying the same airplanes, all with different wages and working conditions, there really isn't that defined career path.”
He added that nearly 250 pilots left WestJet in 2022, with another 100 leaving so far this year - most of them to other airlines, he said.
Following the strike vote, WestJet Group’s COO Diederik Pan issued a statement downplaying its significance.
"A strike authorization vote is a common step by unions in context of the overall labour negotiation process and does not mean a strike will occur.
"We remain unwaveringly committed to achieving an agreement that is competitive within Canada's airline industry and ensures we have a long-term sustainable future.”
As CBC reports, WestJet acknowledges its pilot retention problem, blaming upstart new airline competitors for recruiting its pilots.
However, CEO Alexis Von Hoensbroech dashed any hopes WestJet pilots may have of getting the kind of rich deal that Delta colleagues recently won in the U.S.
"Pilots dream about U.S. wages. The union keeps on repeating that all they want is a standard North American contract," the CBC quoted. "But the U.S. is a totally different market on the aviation side.”
The CEO reportedly said WestJet Group bookings were not being affected by the threat of a pilot strike - and that he expects the company and its pilots to come to an agreement.
