In response to pickets by its unionized pilots at YYC, YVR and YYZ on Monday, 08MAY, as Open Jaw reported, WestJet issued a statement countering some of the union’s claims, while saying it has plans in place in the case of a pilot strike that could come as early as 16MAY.
1,850 WestJet and Swoop pilots who are ALPA members have been negotiating a new contract since fall of 2022. ALPA and its pilot members reportedly continue to push for a “North American / industry-standard contract,” which would narrow the gap between wages at WestJet and other airlines in North America.
Bursting the “Industry-Standard Contract” Bubble
But CBC quoted WestJet’s CEO saying in APR that there’s no way Canadian pilots are in a position to get the same terms as recent, rich new pilot deals reached in the U.S.
In its 08MAY statement, the company reiterated that position.
“There is no such thing as a standard contract that spans a continent in any industry; contracts need to reflect national labour laws, cost of living, economic environment and geography associated with the country a person is employed in,” the airline’s statement said.
“ALPA is suggesting that Canadian pilots earn roughly half of what U.S. pilots earn and creating an expectation that wages should be doubled as part of a new agreement, to reflect the U.S. industry.”
However, it points out that, unlike Canada’s air industry, “the U.S. aviation sector is supported by tax money and saw strong financial support during the COVID-19 pandemic,” and “ALPA’s expectations of wages, if realized, would pose a significant impact to WestJet’s ability to remain competitive and provide affordable air travel to Canadians.”
Furthermore, it claimed that WestJet pilots are already among the best-paid in the country and top-earners “across all professions.”
Pilot Attrition Disputed
The two sides have different stories when it comes to pilots leaving the company or the industry.
As Open Jaw reported, ALPA and WestJet pilots claim that there’s a “mass exodus” of pilots from the airline. ALPA exec Jason Roberts reportedly told the Vancouver Sun. “On average, a WestJet pilot is leaving our airline every 18 hours.”
And the CBC reported WestJet’s CEO acknowledging some pilot losses.
However, in its most recent statement, the airline says the union’s claims of pilot attrition are overstated, insisting that “At WestJet mainline, resignations have been relatively low, and the company has hired three times more pilots into WestJet mainline this year, than there have been resignations.”
Instead, it claims that most pilot attrition is in its regional subsidiary, WestJet Encore - which is not “subject to current bargaining.”
Contingency Plans
Just as the pilots union is saying it’s prepared for strike action, so too, is the airline.
In its statement, WestJet says it is committed to achieving a negotiated agreement that is “competitive within Canada’s airline industry and acknowledges the importance of our pilots, while at the same time secures WestJet’s financial future and avoids unnecessary disruption for Canadian travellers and communities.”
However, while it believes a strike can be avoided, it says that “WestJet is prepared with contingency planning to minimize what could be significant impacts to guest travel.”
In what may be further indication that it is digging in its heels, the airline’s statement concludes: “WestJet is not willing to put the future of the company and 15,000 jobs at risk by agreeing to a contract that isn’t financially viable for the long-term future. With the endorsement of WestJet’s Board of Directors, WestJet is ready to financially weather labour action if required.”
