The news today bodes well for WestJet and you, the workers. WestJet is resuming services and adding flights to a number of routes. What this means is that the road to recovery is starting soon.
This also means your work will slowly start to look like it did before the pandemic struck. We ask you to exercise some caution because we have seen other employers try and slash pay, benefits and other rights in the interest of returning to “doing business.”
As you are already aware, WestJet requested that the federal government be exempt from Division XI from the Canada Labour Code.
Stan Pickthall, IAM Canadian General Vice-President, strongly disagreed with this request from the company in a letter to the Prime Minister dated 29 May, 2020. As Pickthall notes:
By granting the request, the federal government would set a precedent allowing employers in the air transportation industry to bypass minimum standards and protections afforded to workers at this tumultuous and difficult time. Furthermore, allowing an exemption would eradicate little security workers benefit from under regulations on group terminations. During this major crisis, workers’ rights must be protected.
The IAM wants to see ALL workers protected. We would never support the lowering of minimum standards and protections!
WestJet has a history of trying to bypass labour laws: In 2019 they requested an exemption regarding hours of work, rest periods for workers, overtime refusal, including advance notice of schedule and shift changes.
Corporations like West Jet cannot neglect their social responsibility to communities in which they operate. While the public rallies behind businesses that have been the source of employment, the same businesses are under the impression that laws and regulations can be applied by choice, depending on circumstances they face.
We continue to advocate for our members – AND those workers who don’t have a union fighting for them.
