WestJet, pilots agree 11-hour deal to keep away from strike: unions
The union mentioned WestJet and its pilots reached a last-minute deal to keep away from a strike forward of Might’s lengthy vacation weekend.
Members of the Worldwide Air Pilots Affiliation (ALPA) voted to approve an settlement in precept with WestJet administration after greater than 9 months of negotiations over a brand new pilot contract, in response to a information launch late Thursday evening. .
About 1,800 WestJet and Swoop pilots had been prepared to go away work Friday evening after ALPA issued a strike discover on Monday.
The corporate had already canceled tons of of flights in anticipation of grounding the planes.
Whereas the shutdown affected dozens of routes inside Canada, america and internationally, WestJet Encore Regional Providers and WestJet’s Sunwing Airways flights had been unaffected.
The corporate grounded most of its fleet on Thursday, together with its Swoop subsidiary, parked 130 plane at airports from Vancouver to Halifax, leaving 1000’s of vacationers stranded throughout the nation. backside.
The union mentioned it expects members to vote on the deal within the coming days.
“After months of intense negotiations with administration, we’re happy to announce an settlement in precept that may go a great distance in recognizing the worth and experience we convey to airways day-after-day,” mentioned Capt. Bernard Lewall, WestJet Chairman. I believe,’ he mentioned. ALPA Grasp Government Council (MEC).
“This deal may even assist clear up a lot of WestJet’s pilot attraction and retention points, benefiting everybody concerned, from our firm to our passengers and fellow workers.”
The union mentioned WestJet pilots have lagged North American pilots in recent times on key contractual phrases comparable to job safety, profession development, compensation and schedule flexibility.
WestJet ALPA leaders imagine the deal achieves its objectives of guaranteeing higher job safety, higher compensation and extra versatile schedules that permit for a greater work-life stability. mentioned there may be.
“Once I joined WestJet 18 years in the past, WestJet was seen as a profession vacation spot,” Lewall mentioned in an announcement.
“Over the previous few years, we have now sadly been little greater than a coaching floor for pilots retiring seeking higher alternatives.
“This deal will change that and make WestJet a profession vacation spot as soon as once more.”
The union mentioned WestJet administration repeatedly mentioned development methods all through the negotiations.
“If ratified, the pilots will ship a powerful message that they may proceed to contribute considerably to WestJet’s success and acknowledge the corporate’s development technique,” the union mentioned.
The Calgary-based airline has but to concern an announcement on the deal.
— And extra to come back…
— Utilizing the Canadian information company file
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WestJet, pilots agree 11-hour deal to keep away from strike: unions
Source link WestJet, pilots agree 11-hour deal to keep away from strike: unions
