Over 700 WestJet workers in Calgary and Vancouver, including baggage service agents, customer service agents and guest service leads, among others, have voted to strike by an overwhelming 98%.
The strike votes were held last week in Vancouver, and at the beginning of this week in Calgary, says Unifor 531, the union that represents them.
If a deal cannot be reached with the airline, the union is in a strike position as of 27JUL - only one week from now. The union is required to give 72 hours' notice prior to going out on strike.
The possible job action comes as Canada's recovering air industry remains chaotic, plagued by staff shortages, airport delays and lineups, unprecedented baggage issues, and frustrated pax.
"We are burnt out," said Sherwin Antonio, member of the Local 531's Calgary Bargaining Committee.
The union says that since air travel began picking up in the spring, WestJet workers have been subject to verbal abuse and, at times, physical threats from travellers whose flights were delayed or cancelled, "even though the workers were not responsible for the company's decisions."
"This is the perfect storm of massive worker shortages, lost baggage and flight chaos. The people who get the brunt of the anger aren't the people in the boardroom, but us. We have been telling the company for months, we need more support. And we need it now."
The union is fighting for better pay as well as for the airline to relieve workers from what they call a "pressure cooker atmosphere."
Scott Doherty, Executive Assistant to Unifor's National President, says, "The pay scale has not been increased for more than five years, making WestJet's wages among the lowest in the Canadian aviation industry and no match for soaring inflation."
Unifor has been bargaining for what it calls a "fair deal for our members" for nine months, since October 2021, and spent several weeks during that time with a number of conciliators in Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto.
The union filed for conciliation with the Canadian government in APR due to what it calls "the slow pace and lack of process in bargaining."
WestJet Downplays Strike Authorization, Impact
The airline was quick to respond to the union's strike authorization, with Angela Avery, Executive Vice-President and Chief People, Corporate and Sustainability Officer calling the union's announcement "not unexpected."
"This is a common step in the labour negotiation process," she said.
"We remain focused on successfully negotiating an agreement that provides value to our airport employees, many of whom have joined WestJet in the last year. In the meantime, we will continue to provide our guests with the friendly and affordable air travel WestJet has always been known for."
The company's statement says WestJet is "committed to competitive compensation that recognize(s) airport employee contributions, while ensuring the airline is positioned to return to profitability, following more than two years of unprecedented financial losses resulting from the pandemic."
It added that "the vast majority of more tenured airport employees have received increases through the existing pay step structure, in addition to a Canadian industry leading variable compensation."
WestJet adds that it is working on precautionary contingency plans should a strike actually take place, and has identified staff who may be reassigned if required. "This preventative measure is in place to ensure critical air service continuity from coast-to-coast and to protect the fragile recovery of Canada's travel and tourism industry," its statement adds.
