WestJet pilots nix union in close vote
55% say no to certification
The unionization drive by pilots at WestJet Airlines Ltd. has fizzled out for now after the majority of pilots rejected certification in a close vote.
The WestJet Professional Pilots Association (WPPA) said Wednesday that of the 1,247 pilots who voted, 55 per cent said no to unionization, allowing the company to preserve its status as the only major Canadian airline without a union.
“The majority of WestJet pilots have decided that they do not wish to pursue certification at this time,” the association, which was created by a group of prounion pilots, said in a posting on its Facebook page.
“While naturally disappointed with this result, we hope the open discussions that have taken place as part of this process will set the stage for constructive dialogue between our pilots and WestJet leadership going forward.”
WestJet said it was “pleased” with the result and emphasized that it will continue to work with the existing WestJet Pilots’ Association, the non-union group that currently represents the airline’s pilots.
“Our model of cooperation and employee representation through the WestJet Pilots’ Association has allowed for the continued success of our pilots and our airline,” CEO Gregg Saretsky said in a statement.
“Despite the positive outcome, there is continued work that needs to take place to better understand some of the issues for our pilot group and we can now turn our efforts to that goal.”
The pro-union WPPA did not reveal the identity of its members or grant any media interviews during its unionization drive, saying that if names were attached to the organization, “pilots may be preoccupied with the individuals and not the institution we seek to create.”
It hinted, however, on its website at the reasons for its existence, saying it believes the existing WestJet Pilots’ Association “has proven to be ineffective at representing the interests of our pilots.”
“The WestJet Professional Pilots Association has serious concerns that the level of representation has not kept pace with the immense changes that have taken place at our airline in the recent past,” the WPPA site says.
“The pilot group is concerned that the increasing burden placed on all employee groups in pursuit of corporate profits is damaging our product. The damage to employee morale, damage to our guest experience, and ultimately the damage to our airline’s long-term sustainability must be addressed.”
In a recent analysis, Raymond James’s Ben Cherniavsky said WestJet’s expansion from one type of aircraft to three may have created tension among pilots and other employees.