Swoop Integration Update #2

Dear Swoopsters 
 
Your Executive Team has heard concerns about a lack of information from your Union regarding the Swoop/WestJet integration. We wanted to assure you that as information becomes available, we will communicate it to you.  
 
Currently there is no updated information to share at this time, as everything is still being worked on. Until terms are agreed upon, and documents signed, these things cannot be shared.  
 
As you have seen from our recent communication, your elected WO Integration Advisory Committee is now up and running. The Committee has met twice with the Union since the election concluded on Friday July 21st, less than a week ago.   
  
CUPE 4070 has also been in discussion with the Company over the past month. It has been working on laying the groundwork to integrate Swoop into WestJet. Please be aware that these discussions are highly confidential. Your Union is unable to share any details until all points have been agreed upon and an agreement has been signed between the Company and the Union.   
  
Once that is complete, details can and will be shared with you. Please follow our emails for current and accurate information. Otherwise please take what you hear as rumours. 

President, Alia Hussain
Vice President, Tyson Conrod
Recording Secretary, Calvin Gautschi
Secretary-Treasurer, Alex Grigoriev

Swoop Base VP, Sherrie Moore
WestJet Encore YYC/YYZ Base VP, Adrian Dayrit
WestJet YEG/YVR Base VP, Chris Brewer
WestJet YYC Base VP, Brandy Whitby
WestJet YYZ Base VP, Bryan Hansraj

ADCP-Harvard FA Health Study Phase 4

WS E-Learning Audit

Dear Members, 
 
Earlier this year, potential discrepancies in the pay for online training modules were brought to the Union’s attention by WS Cabin Crew Members (CCMs).  
 
Online and Company Required Out-of-Class Training  
WS CA 41-9.07: Online and Company required out-of-class training will be paid but not credited fifty percent (50%) of the completion time for Company required training. For clarity, a Cabin Personnel’s personal review and study time shall not be considered Company required out-of-class training. For the purposes of pay, the completion time of each course or work assigned will be based on the published completion time for that course. 
 
WS CCMs are to be paid 50% of the published completion times, and discrepancies were identified between the published completion times and what WS CCMs were paid. Over the past few months, CUPE has been engaged with the Employer to identify and rectify these concerns. It was discovered that the published completion times fluctuated between Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4, based on median completion times by WS CCMs when comparing the data from the previous quarter. The Employer agreed to run an audit on the 2022 online learning pay, which substantiated the concerns brought forward by Members.  
 
Over 950 WS CCMs were underpaid for online learning in 2022. The amounts varied from a few dollars to a few hundred. 
 
However, the audit also found that over 150 WS CCMs were overpaid for their online learning in 2022. As per the WS Collective Agreement, Repayment Schedule 42-2, those that are owed will be paid back, and those that owe will have to pay back. The Employer will be sending out emails to all affected WS CCMs.  
 
To prevent this problem in the future, CUPE and the Employer agreed that the published completion times would remain the same on the CCD throughout the year. This would not change, unless there is a significant update to the online learning. The CCD will reflect those times in that case.  
 
Your Union would like to thank each and every WS CCM that brought this issue to our attention. The errors would not have been caught if it hadn't been for your efforts and persistence. 
 
We would also like to highlight that any time there is a problem or issue (WO, WR, WS), please bring it forward to your respective WO, WR or WS Base Vice-President, through the proper channels, so we can work on a potential resolution like we have for the online learning payments. We achieved these results through the collaborative efforts of the Union's Members and your Executive Team. 
 
Contact your CUPE Representative here. 

President, Alia Hussain
Vice President, Tyson Conrod
Recording Secretary, Calvin Gautschi
Secretary-Treasurer, Alex Grigoriev

Swoop Base VP, Sherrie Moore
WestJet Encore YYC/YYZ Base VP, Adrian Dayrit
WestJet YEG/YVR Base VP, Chris Brewer
WestJet YYC Base VP, Brandy Whitby
WestJet YYZ Base VP, Bryan Hansraj

WO Integration Advisory Committee Vote Result

Good day Members,

Below is the vote result for the WO Integration Advisory Committee.  Thank you to all who participated.

ELECTION RESULT:

2x WO YHM/YYZ Integration Advisory Committee 105 (62.5%) of 168
Vanessa Settimi - READ MORE-87 (41.4%)
Jay Antflick-74 (35.2%)
Jessica Lockley-49 (23.3%)
 

ACCLAIMED:

1x WO YEG  Integration Advisory Committee
Katie Taylor - READ MORE

Electoral Officer: 
The Electoral Officer for this election will be Jael Gosselin, WestJet YYC Cabin Crew Member.

Returning Officer: 
The Returning Officer for this election will be Christine Weisner, WestJet YYC Cabin Crew Member.

Respectfully,
Calvin Gautschi
Recording Secretary - CUPE 4070

Swoop Wet Lease Announcement

Dear Swoopsters, 

Swoop Management has advised the Union that they will initiate two Wet Leases in the coming weeks. This is as per the Collective Agreement's Article 6-3-Job Security.  Swoop Management advised the Wet Lease is mainly due to Pilot Attrition. As a result, Jetlines has been secured for July 31- August 7, 2023, and Nolinor has been secured from August 3-13th, 2023. 
 

Please review the Company’s communication they have released to you. 
 

There may be a reduction in your overall scheduled working hours, but under the Collective Agreement, you will still be pay protected as per your Minimum Monthly Pay Guarantee (MMG), regardless of the reduction in schedule. Please review 39-1 Minimum Monthly Pay Guarantee  
 

Management has also advised that there will likely be limited opportunity for shift pick-ups, due to limited hours across the network and lack of Pilot resources. Please review CA Articles 6-3 Job Security.
 

We are working hard to protect your rights. As a result of the announcement of Wet Leases, no jobs will be lost, and no layoffs will occur. 
 

If you have questions about the Wet Lease Agreement, please reach out to your Swoop (WO) Leader.  
 

If you experience any violations of the Collective Agreement, please reach out to your Base VP Sherrie Moore.

President, Alia Hussain
Vice President, Tyson Conrod
Recording Secretary, Calvin Gautschi
Secretary-Treasurer, Alex Grigoriev

Swoop Base VP, Sherrie Moore
WestJet Encore YYC/YYZ Base VP, Adrian Dayrit
WestJet YEG/YVR Base VP, Chris Brewer
WestJet YYC Base VP, Brandy Whitby
WestJet YYZ Base VP, Bryan Hansraj

Elections July 2023 - Voting Package WO Integration Advisory Committee

Good day Members,

In this email, is the voting information for the WO Integration Advisory Committee. The voting link will be sent out once elections open (see below), and to eligible voters only.
 

ELECTION REQUIRED:

2x WO YHM/YYZ Integration Advisory Committee
Jay Antflick
Jessica Lockley
Vanessa Settimi - READ MORE
 

ACCLAIMED-NO ELECTION REQUIRED:

1x WO YEG  Integration Advisory Committee
Katie Taylor - READ MORE
 

Voting is open to Members in Good Standing only.

If you wish to become a Member in Good Standing, please sign a card and pay the $5 Membership fee (if you haven't already), this will begin the process and is completed at the next General Membership Meeting (GMM). SIGN A CARD HERE 

Your secure voting link will arrive via email from: vote@simplyvoting.com.

If you do not find your voting link in your email, please check your spam/junk folder.

If you are still unable to find the link, please email us here.

Please include your full name, airline unit and employee number in the email.

First Round Election Start: 
July 16, 2023 at 03:00PT / 04:00MT / 06:00ET 
First Round Election End: 
July 21, 2023 at 15:00PT / 16:00MT / 18:00ET

Electoral Officer: 
The Electoral Officer for this election will be Jael Gosselin, WestJet YYC Cabin Crew Member.

Returning Officer: 
The Returning Officer for this election will be Christine Weisner, WestJet YYC Cabin Crew Member.

Respectfully,
Calvin Gautschi
Recording Secretary - CUPE 4070

WS YWG Base Bid MOA

Good day Members, 
 
CUPE and WestJet have signed an MOA for the opening of the WS YWG Base.  

As outlined in the MOA, the intention is to allow a one-time exception applied to existing parameters outlined in the Collective Agreement. This will provide as many members as possible the opportunity to participate in the initial YWG base bid. 

You can view the MOA here.  The anticipated effective date of awarded bids is October 2023 blocking month, aligning with the base opening. 

Please Note: If you are currently on protected leave and are denied the opportunity to bid for this base vacancy, please reach out to your Base VP here. 

If you have any questions in relation to this MOA, please reach out to your DPM. 

President, Alia Hussain
Vice President, Tyson Conrod
Recording Secretary, Calvin Gautschi
Secretary-Treasurer, Alex Grigoriev

Swoop Base VP, Sherrie Moore
WestJet Encore YYC/YYZ Base VP, Adrian Dayrit
WestJet YEG/YVR Base VP, Chris Brewer
WestJet YYC Base VP, Brandy Whitby
WestJet YYZ Base VP, Bryan Hansraj

Unpaid Work Won’t Fly Update #2

Canadian Labour Code Changes

Dear Members, 

We are writing to update you regarding the Employer's known non-compliance with the amendments to the Canada Labour Code pertaining to Medical Leave with Pay and Personal Leave.

In December 2022, the Canada Labour Code was amended to include ten days of Medical Leave with Pay for all federally regulated employees, regardless of status (full-time, part-time, casual, etc.). With the implementation of Medical Leave with Pay came the qualifications amendment to Personal Leave, that Personal Leave cannot be taken for personal illness or injury.  This means that Personal Days (Personal Leave) cannot bededucted from your federally regulated sick bank (days of Medical Leave with Pay). 

For the last six months, the Employer has not been complying with the Code amendments and has been deducting personal leave from sick leave banks. This resulted in the Union filing Individual Grievances for the affected Members who have brought their issues forward to the Union. The Employer has denied those grievances. 

In response to this, your Union filed Policy Grievance WS-POL-2023-003 - Failure to Implement Sick Leave Provisions of the Canada Labour Code on June 22, 2023, at Step II of the Grievance Procedure. The Union and Employer agreed to waive the Step II Hearing and proceed to mediation, as the violations were established and clear. 

Additionally, the Union was made aware that Rainmaker is capping all Cabin Personnel's sick banks at the part-time maximum of 15 days.  This issue was escalated by the Union. The Employer indicated they are aware of the cap, that Crew Pay is tracking Cabin Personnel's accruals, and that the software update to address this cap was being held off until after mediation.

On July 5, 2023, your Union met with the Employer and Arbitrator William Kaplan to mediate the policy grievance filed in June. Led by YYC Base Vice-President Brandy Whitby along with Vice President Tyson Conrod, CUPE National Representatives, and CUPE National Legal Counsel, we weresuccessful in obtaining a favourable Memorandum of Settlement for Policy Grievance WS-POL-2023-003. 

Upon entering mediation, our position was clear – we were unwilling to agree to any concessionary proposals for compliance with the Code regarding changes to the maximumaccruals for sick time and sick bank maximum allotments. 

We are pleased to report that we were successful in attaining our original grievance asks and in attaining proposed language amendments that are significantly beneficial for Members. 

Of significance:

• On August 1, 2023, Cabin Personnel will be provided a new annual allotment of three paid Personal Leave days for their use in the 2023 calendar year, and all remaining sick day accruals for the 2023 calendar year will be placed into the active Cabin Personnel’s sick bank as an allotment (to a maximum of 22 days)
• Sick days will be front loaded at the beginning of the calendar year and no longer accrued (12 for active Full-Time Members and 10 for active Part-Time Members)
• The Sick Bank maximums remain the same (22 days for Full-Time Members and 15 days for Part-Time Members)
• Active Cabin Personnel will be entitled to three paid Personal Leave days reconciled outside of the sick bank
• Returning to duty from Personal Leave prior to the Release Time of an original pairing is protected within CA 34-23 - Return to Duty with Schedule Assigned (Not Including Sick Leave)
• All language pertaining to a “doctor’s certificate” has beenamended to a “health care practitioner’s certificate” - this provides greater scope of treatment providers that are nowable to provide a sick note/certificate, if required

The new language comes into effect on August 1, 2023, and the Company has advised the Union that a communication and referenceable material will be released in the coming weeks.

Your Union is committed to actively and fiercely fighting for your rights not only as bargained in the Collective Agreement, but as legislated in the Canada Labour Code by the Government of Canada. Our position remains the same - compliance with the Canada Labour Code is not optional, it is the law.

President, Alia Hussain
Vice President, Tyson Conrod
Recording Secretary, Calvin Gautschi
Secretary-Treasurer, Alex Grigoriev

Swoop Base VP, Sherrie Moore
WestJet Encore YYC/YYZ Base VP, Adrian Dayrit
WestJet YEG/YVR Base VP, Chris Brewer
WestJet YYC Base VP, Brandy Whitby
WestJet YYZ Base VP, Bryan Hansraj

July Newsletter

Topics in this Newsletter:
President's Updates
Return to Work Committee Update
Bringing a Guest on a Layover
Importance of Documentation
Shift Trades
Save the Dates
Galley Gossip

President's Update

Dear Members 

A quick update on the past month inside the local;

• Union Grievance Management Software- We have spent the past several months researching union management software programs. Over the past month we have met with various software providers looking for a replacement program for our internal database management that is no longer being supported and is obsolete. We looked at several providers across Canada and the US. We are hoping to make a decision soon – and will share the outcome with the Membership! This is a critical piece to our operations as grievance and database management are at the core of the work we do and are critical to having internal organization and flow for this Local in the years to come.  

• Cabin Crew Jump Seat Agreements- We were advised by Air Transat that the company has chosen not to pursue the agreement at this time. We are disappointed to hear this and will continue to advocate for this from our employer and the other companies as this is something that we believe our members should have access to. CALM Air is currently in active discussions with the organization for a CCM arrangement and we will communicate once we have more information. Air Canada is another one we pursued but they had no interest at this time.  

• Townhall- We thank all those who participated in the Townhall. The video is now posted on the CUPE website. Thank you to everyone who submitted questions in advance. The Executive Board is meeting next week to discuss our next date and will share that information soon!  

• Special Membership Meeting- Thank you for your participation in the Special Membership Meeting. The participation of our members allowed us to stand up a committee to ensure our members' voices are appropriately and meaningfully engaged in decisions that have direct impact on them! If you wish to view the video, please log onto the CUPE website.  

• #Unpaidworkwontfly Campaign- Thank you to all those who participated and shared in the petition.  16998 signatures received! The next step is the House of commons has 45 days to respond to the petition- if the House is not in sitting upon the due date, they must respond to our petition at the next sitting. Those who participated in the petition will receive the response via email. The Airline Division Council of Presidents (ADCP) will meet next in September to plan our next step to our campaign. Please stay tuned. 

• WO Integration- We are actively engaged with the Employer discussing the WO merger. Our WO Integration Advisory Committee will be stood up around July 22, 2023, and we will hit the ground running – working on getting feedback. We remain committed to keeping our Membership informed in a timely manner.  

• WS Collective Bargaining 2025 - CA2 - We have added a count down timer to the website for when the various Collective Agreements expire.  We ask our Members to begin to contemplate what our priorities should be.  Please consider keeping notes on things that arise out of our current CA that you believe should be addressed.  Internally we have begun to lay out our strategic plan.  #beready #ourturn2025

Alia Hussain 
CUPE 4070 President 

Return to Work Committee Update

Please click here for the RTW (Return to Work) Committee update

Bringing a Guest on a Layover
 

Happy summer from your Hotel and Transportation Committee. With the season underway, we'd like to take a moment to remind everyone about the policy regarding bringing a guest in Company Transportation to/from hotels. 
 
All requests must be made using the form on our Company issued device (iPad) and approved through Crew Accommodations. The permission to allow guests to ride along in the shuttle doesn’t reside with the Captain or Cabin Manager / Lead, nor the individual driving the van. 
 
The reasons this form exists are numerous including implications around vehicle size, contractual agreements, insurance coverage, safety and approved capacity of seats for crew comfort. Additionally, some countries/destinations require specific guest manifests that can be verified by that region's police at any time. If the manifest doesn’t match the riders, the transportation company and the driver can be penalized financially, or more severe consequences can occur.  

Lastly, some companies simply choose not to offer the ability to bring an additional guest and therefore are not included on the form list. 
 
Please ensure you are following the documented process as outlined in Company communications. It can be unfair to Crew Members who did follow the process and may or may not have been granted approval to bring their guest to have others show up unannounced. This ability, when available, is a perk to all Crew and we'd like to continue offering it in the future, and not have it taken away from us. 
 
Thank you and happy flying!
Your CUPE 4070 Hotel and Transportation Committee

Importance of Documentation

Completing an IHR and sending a copy to your DPM and Union Representatives is an important step to actioning change. It establishes documentation of the issue, and the Company cannot claim they were unaware of the issue.

For example, reporting safety issues such dirty ovens or extensive duty days due to schedule construction. Sharing this documentation with the Union is vital so that it can be followed up with by the appropriate committees such as Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), Base Vice President and the Executive Board.

This data is important to the Union to document issues and build our data to bargain for better working and living conditions.
 
To contact the Union got to www.cupe4070.ca/contact

Shift Trades

Shift Trade reminders, if you are giving away a partial shift trade, please indicate it in the comments section.  As once a pairing is split, the split portion can be traded without the other person knowing it was a shift trade and that they will not be paid any Trip RIGs.  Please provide this courteousey to your fellow Cabin Crew Members and take care of one another. 

WS CA 34-20.04 & WR CA 34-17.04:The MDPC will not be applied to any duty period which was shortened as a result of a partial Shift Trade. The Trip RIG will not be applied to any pairing which is modified as a result of a partial Shift Trade.

Save the Dates
 

Special Membership Meeting (SMM)
July 4, 2023 

To view the meeting minutes and video recording, please log into the CUPE website, once logged in, on the right side lower down click the button 'Previous GMM/SMM/Townhalls'

Townhall - Informal 
July 5th, 2023 

To view the video recording, please log into the CUPE website, once logged in, on the right side lower down click the button 'Previous GMM/SMM/Townhalls'

General Membership Meeting (GMM) 
November 8, 2023 1100PT/1200MT/1400ET - Sign Up Here

Open only to Members in Good Standing

When you sign into the meeting meeting the day of, please ensure your first and last name, and your employee number is showing.  Otherwise you cannot be verified and will be denied entry into the meeting.  

**DO NOT USE YOUR WORK EMAIL ADDRESS**

May 2023 GMM video recording and meeting minutes is on our website, after you have logged in, you can click here for quick access.

Galley Gossip

(Visit the Galley Gossip Wall on our website to see previous submissions and answers)
 

Galley Gossip: As released in the WestJet Live event on June 15, it was shown that the MAX-10 will not have a mid-cabin lav so that more seats can be fit in the cabin. The lineups for the lavs are already horrible. What can be done about this?

Answer: The Union can only enforce what is in the bargained Collective Agreement and what is in the Canadian Labor Code.  Please provide this feedback to the Employer via the appropriate reporting channels.

Galley Gossip: Crew Meals- Can we get crew meals on US flights? It's so hard to pack food when the US & CAD agriculture directives keep changing and varies from one airport to another. Also some of our '37 flights are the same stage length as '87 flights that receive crew meals so perhaps that could be revisited as well. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Answer: The Employer only desires to do monetary bargaining at the designated bargaining time.  The current Collective Agreement expires Dec.31, 2025.  Each September non-monetary items can be bargained, keeping in mind, many things will have a monetary side, due to labor or implementation on the Employer side. 

Galley Gossip: Swoop fa’s are being told by pilots that were going to lose our jobs when the companies “merge”? Is there any truth to this?

Answer: The Employer has advised that no one will lose their jobs due to the merger of Swoop (WO)

On behalf of your Local 4070 Executives:

President, Alia Hussain
Vice President, Tyson Conrod
Recording Secretary, Calvin Gautschi
Secretary-Treasurer, Alex Grigoriev

Swoop Base VP, Sherrie Moore
WestJet Encore YYC/YYZ Base VP, Adrian Dayrit
WestJet YEG/YVR Base VP, Chris Brewer
WestJet YYC Base VP, Brandy Whitby
WestJet YYZ Base VP, Bryan Hansraj

Swoop Integration Advisory Committee Election

Good day Members,


Thank you for all who attended the SMM and participated in the vote to have your voice heard.

We are running an election for the Swoop Integration Advisory Committee.  This will consist of one member from each city (1xYEG, 2xYHM/YYZ).

Please review the Committees role here.

If you have questions please reach out to CUPE here.  
 

The following is an outline for this Election:
Nominations Open: 
July 4, 2023 at 10:30PT / 11:300MT / 13:30ET 
Nominations Close: 
July 9, 2023 at 14:00PT / 15:00MT / 17:00ET 
Nomination Acceptance Due: 
July 14, 2023 at 14:00PT / 15:00MT / 17:00ET 
Resume/Info Sheet Due: 
July 14 2023 at 14:00PT / 15:00MT / 17:00ET 
First Round Election Start: 
July 16, 2023 at 03:00PT / 04:00MT / 06:00ET 
First Round Election End: 
July 21, 2023 at 15:00PT / 16:00MT / 18:00ET

Only Members in Good Standing can be nominated and can participate in the voting process.
If you are not a Member in Good Standing, to begin the process, click here.

After all steps are completed, the final step is finished at the next GMM, which occurs every May and November. 

If you are unsure if you are a Member in Good Standing, inquire here.

Notes:

• The nominator must discuss the nomination with the nominee and both must be Members In Good Standing.

• DO NOT submit multiple nominations for the same person.

• You cannot nominate yourself. 

For more information regarding the roles and expectations, please consult the bylaws. 

To fill out nomination forms please: click here

All nomination forms that have been submitted receive an automatic reply right a ways.  If you did not receive an automatic reply, please check your junk folder.  Submit again if you did not get an automatic reply. Email inquiries to the Returning Officer below. 

Nomination Acceptance
All Members who have been nominated will be sent an email asking if they will allow their name to stand on the ballot and to accept the nomination.

If you have been nominated for a position, please monitor your email including your spam/junk folders during this period. Nominees who do not reply by the deadline will automatically be considered to have declined their nomination.

Resume/Info Sheet
All nominees that accept their nomination will be given the opportunity to provide a one (1) page (standard 8.5x11 size) resume/info sheet which can be posted on our social media pages and website with links sent by email to all Members to view.

Nominees must send their resume/info sheet in PDF format only.

You can start creating your resume/information sheet ASAP. 

Please Do Not:

• Submit large file resume/info sheets (under 1,000kb only)

• Use company logos 

• Provide any information you don’t want public 

Electoral Officer: 
The Electoral Officer for this by-election will be Jael Gosselin, WestJet YYC Cabin Crew Member.

Returning Officer: 
The Returning Officer for this election will be Christine Weisner, WestJet YYZ Cabin Crew Member.

Respectfully,
Calvin Gautschi
Recording Secretary - CUPE 4070

Special Membership Meeting (SMM)

 

Hello WO, WR and WS,  
 

The Executive Board of CUPE Local 4070 is giving notice for a Special Membership Meeting (SMM) as per Section 5(b) of the Bylaws. Please be advised: 

DATE: July 4th, 2023 

TIME: 0900PT/1000MT/1200ET  

LOCATION: Virtually via Microsoft Teams. 

SUBJECT TO BE DISCUSSED: To establish a temporary Committee named “The Swoop Integration Advisory Committee” and to approve new Members into Good Standing. 
 
AGENDA: 
1. Approving new Members to be Members in Good Standing 
2. Approval for the setup of a committee; Swoop Integration Advisory Committee. 

Please see complete agenda HERE 

SIGN UP HERE: Open to Members in Good Standing and Members who applied to be a Member in Good Standing. 

If you are not a Member in Good Standing, as per Bylaws Section 3, and wish to apply, please fill out the application form here by July 3rd, 1200PT/1300MT/1500ET. (If you have not paid the initiation fee, that will be required as well, which is $5) 

If you do not know if you are a Member in Good Standing, please contact your Base Vice President here. 

**Please note when you log into the meeting, your full name and employee number must be visible.  If it is not visible, we do not know who you are and you will not be let into the meeting. ** 

Please be patient as it can take several minutes to verify and admit everyone into the meeting.

For example, WestJet Members: 

WS 29902 Bryan Hansraj 

For example, Encore Members: 

WR 32168 Adrian Dayrit  

For example, Swoop Members: 

WO 800278 Sherrie Moore 

QUORUM: Your attendance is pivotal to decision making at our local. Quorum is the required number of attendees so that the meeting can take place. Quorum at Local 4070 per the Bylaws, is a minimum of 40 members plus at least two members of the Exectutive Board.  

Q & A

Please review the Q & A below. There will be more information shared at the SMM. As well as an opportunity for discussion on the Committee. 

Why such short notice for an SMM? 

The Union has been advised by the Company that they would like to start the integration as soon as late July or early August. This means contractual details need to settled in an expeditious manner.  

Additionally, the Bylaws share that the local needs to give the membership 24 hours notice of an SMM.  We are getting this out to the Members ASAP to allow for more notice. We remain committed to sharing details as soon as they become available, so we have been working around the clock to sort out what the Company's plans are and working to determine the best course of action on behalf of the impacted groups.  

Can we discuss other things on the agenda?  

A Special Membership Meeting (SMM) can only discuss what is on the agenda as per the Bylaws. There can be no other new business added. if you would like to have a broader discussion, please attend the Townhall meeting scheduled for the next day (July 5th). Please sign up here. 
(Questions can be submitted in that link as well, to be answered during the Townhall)

What is the role of the “Advisory Committee”? 

The Executive Board is committed to having the Memberships consultation on this matter as this is a significant moment in history for our WO Membership, the closing of Swoop. The Committee's scope will be to advise the Executive Board on matters related to their integration into WS.
Ex. vacation remaining, sick days, rates of pay, and other important rights afforded to them under the WO Collective Agreement. 

Will this Advisory Committee deal with the issue of seniority? 

No. The issue of seniority is a much larger conversation that is not decided by one Unit. The Union is working on the matter of seniority and will advise the Membership of its next steps once we have established what our plan of action on this matter is. We recognize and understand the importance of seniority to all groups and are committed to giving the subject matter the attention it deserves as a stand-alone item.   

What happens if we don’t establish quorum?  

If we do not establish quorum, the Local will then move to an appointment process of the Advisory Committee, as this committee is essential to ensure our WO Members’ voice is included in the process of their integration into WS.  

The Board firmly believes WO’s input is essential when integrating and believes the WO Membership should be able to vote on who represents their interests. However, if we are unable to establish this at an SMM, the President can stand up a committee and appoint. This is supported the language in CUPE National Constitution B.3.1. 

In a continued effort to engage our WO Members input, we will email our WO Members advising them of an opportunity to participate in the Committee. The Members may then fill out an expression of interest and the appointment will be done by a randomized draw process. More details to follow.  It is our preference to go the election route rather than appointment. 

On behalf of your Local 4070 Executives:

CUPE 4070 President, Alia Hussain
CUPE 4070 Vice President, Tyson Conrod
CUPE 4070 Recording Secretary, Calvin Gautschi
CUPE 4070 Secretary-Treasurer, Alex Grigoriev

Swoop Base VP, Sherrie Moore
WestJet Encore YYC Base VP, Adrian Dayrit
WestJet YEG/YVR Base VP, Chris Brewer
WestJet YYC Base VP, Brandy Whitby
WestJet YYZ Base VP, Bryan Hansraj

Unpaid Work Won’t Fly

Election Results June 21, 2023

Good day Members,

Below you will find the election results.  Thank you to everyone one who participated.

ELECTED POSITONS:
 

1x CUPE 4070 Vice President 1325 (43.4%) 
Tyson Conrod - READ MORE 613 (46.3%)
Colleen Tracey - READ MORE 459 (34.6%)
Meghan Gulliver - READ MORE 253 (19.1%)Electoral Officer: 
The Electoral Officer for this by-election will be Jael Gosselin, WestJet YYC Base Cabin Crew Member.

Returning Officer: 
The Returning Officer for this election will be Jay Heethuis-Dubois, WestJet YYC Cabin Crew Member.Respectfully,
Calvin Gautschi
Recording Secretary - CUPE 4070

Message from the President

Dear Members, 

I am writing to address an important matter that affects our union and members directly. As you are already aware, the bargaining negotiations with the Pilot group resulted in the integration/mergers of two of our own units.  This is in addition to the recently announced merger with Sunwing, following the purchase of that airline by WestJet.  These announcements will result in significant changes in our industry's landscape. Mergers in our industry are common.  Simultaneous mergers on the other hand, are not common and so it is essential for us to closely examine the terms of each merger, scrutinize the legalities involved, and advocate for the preservation of your collective agreement rights! 

While these mergers appear as identical process, it is crucial to recognize that there are differences in the context and jurisdiction of each merger. These disparities can have far-reaching consequences on our collective agreement rights if we do not take the time to fully explore the implications. Our duty, as your representatives, is to safeguard and uphold your rights.  

Naturally, these changes have created uncertainty and anxiety for all members.  However, I want to emphasize the detrimental effects of misinformation and speculation during times of uncertainty. In situations like these, misinformation can spread rapidly, leading to unnecessary confusion and anxiety among our members. It is important to remember that rumors and hearsay can often be misleading and inaccurate. Therefore, I urge each and every one of you to rely solely on official union communications for accurate information regarding the mergers and their implications. 

As your union President, I want to assure you that we are actively examining the terms of each merger, scrutinizing the legalities involved, advocating for the preservation of your collective agreement rights, and engaging in discussions with the employer. Our primary goal is to protect the interests and well-being of our members during this transitional period. We are committed to advocating for your rights, preserving job security, and ensuring fair working conditions. 

Throughout this process, transparency and open communication will remain a top priority for us. We will provide updates on the progress of negotiations, any significant developments, and any potential changes that may affect our members. Please remember to trust only official union communications and disregard any unfounded rumors or speculations that may circulate. 

We encourage you to participate actively, share your thoughts, and raise any issues that you believe require our attention. Your input and engagement are invaluable as we navigate through these challenging times together. Please use the contact form on the website to share feedback with your Locals Executive Team. 

With your continued support and solidarity, we will overcome the obstacles that may arise from these mergers. Our collective agreement rights are non-negotiable, and we will fight to ensure they are upheld throughout this process. 

Thank you for your trust in our union. With your support, we will emerge from this period stronger and more resilient than ever before. 



Respectfully,

Alia Hussain
Local 4070 - President. 


Your CUPE 4070 Executive Team
CUPE 4070 President, Alia Hussain
CUPE 4070 Vice-President, Charles Brochu
CUPE 4070 Secretary-Treasurer, Alex Grigoriev
CUPE 4070 Recording Secretary, Calvin Gautschi
WestJet YEG/YVR Base VP, Chris Brewer
WestJet YYC Base VP, Brandy Whitby
WestJet YYZ Base VP, Bryan Hansraj
WestJet Encore YYC Base VP, Adrian Dayrit
WestJet Encore YYZ Base VP, Vacant
Swoop Base VP, Sherrie Moore

AOC (Airline Operating Certificate) Integration

 Dear Members, 

Over the past week, we have heard several announcements from the Employer.   

1. Swoop Integration into WestJet 

2. One AOC (Airline Operating Certificate)-Sunwing/Swoop/WestJet  

3. Winnipeg Base Opening 

Due to the first two announcements, this triggered several meetings with the employer, and we are working to establish the next steps.  

We want to acknowledge at the outset that this is an extremely complex situation in which our Local has never found itself before. We continue to consult with our National Representatives and the Legal Team at CUPE to get a broader understanding of this undertaking and its implications/impacts and legalities. 

We must carefully look at each Collective Agreement, the Canadian Labor Code (CLC) and any previous precedents in similar cases that have occurred to ensure we are doing our due diligence. 

We recognize and acknowledge the stress some of this information is causing for our Members across each Unit. At this stage there are too many unknowns for the Union to meaningfully communicate more specific details with our Members . We want to assure the Membership that your Executive Team is committed to providing you with as many details as possible and to share information once it becomes available. 

Elections June 2023 - Voting Package CUPE 4070 Vice President

Good day Members,

Below is the vote information for the CUPE 4070 Vice President role. The voting link will be sent out on June 15th to eligible voters only.

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ELECTION REQUIRED:

1x CUPE 4070 Vice President
Colleen Tracey - READ MORE
Meghan Gulliver - READ MORE
Tyson Conrod - READ MORE

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Voting is open to Members in Good Standing only.

If you wish to become a Member in Good Standing, please sign a card and pay the $5 Membership fee (if you haven't already), this will begin the process and is completed at the next General Membership Meeting (GMM). SIGN A CARD HERE 

Your secure voting link will arrive via email from: vote@simplyvoting.com.

If you do not find your voting link in your email, please check your spam/junk folder.

If you are still unable to find the link, please email us here.

Please include your full name, airline unit and employee number in the email.

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Voting Start:
June 15, 2023 at 03:00PT / 04:00MT / 06:00ET
Voting End:
June 21, 2023 at 15:00PT / 16:00MT / 18:00ET

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Electoral Officer: 
The Electoral Officer for this election will be Jael Gosselin, WestJet YYC Cabin Crew Member.

Returning Officer: 
The Returning Officer for this election will be Jay Heethuis-Dubois, WestJet YYC Cabin Crew Member.

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Respectfully,
Calvin Gautschi
Recording Secretary - CUPE 4070

Swoop Integration

Dear 4070 Members, 

With the news today of the ratification of the WestJet & Swoop Pilots' Collective Agreement, the Company has stated that Swoop will be integrated into WestJet 's operations in under 5 months – October 28, 2023 - with movements occurring as soon as September 30th. In the communication they also confirmed that all Swoop Employees will stay with the Group, as part of WestJet, in pursuit of the long-term growth strategy. 

Since the news broke this morning, we have had many members reach out concerned about the impact this will have on our Membership. We have language negotiated that contemplates some of scenarios we face, however all variables are not known at this time.  

What we do know, is that this is important to all our Members at 4070, and we will be expecting the Company to share integration information with the Union in a timely manner. We have meetings, set to begin on Monday, to start working through the pieces.  Once we have that information, we will be communicating that out to the entire Membership.  

One thing is for certain, we are reassured to hear that there is a commitment from WestJet to ensure there is no job loss. Please read the communications that the Company has released so far. 

WO Newsletter June 2023

Hello Fellow Swoopsters, 

I want to take a moment to thank all of you for your hard work on the line and for the fabulous job you do, day after day, considering the uncertainties we are facing these days. Some things have been brought to my attention that I would like to share with you in order to clarify some procedures and make your job a little easier. 

Company Townhall: 

Please attend the Company townhall today (June 9th) if you can.  Please see their email for details.

Uniform: 

Please reread your COPs section 7.0 - Company Issued Uniform (Onboard Experience Manual 8.0). Management has indicated that there are a few of us who have uniforms which are ill-fitting, in disrepair, or members are wearing their own pieces instead of Company issued pieces. The Company holds the responsibility to provide us with our uniform pieces.   We ask our members to not replace Swoop Uniform pieces with personal pieces.   

If you need uniform pieces or if you are having troubles with the Unisync site, please contact Karen Sherratt for assistance as she handles uniforms for all bases. If you need a new piece because of a sizing issue, make sure you try on the samples, so you order the correct size the first time. You also get approximately $300 at the start of each year for replacement pieces.  

Booking Off Mid-Pairing: 

The Company has advised there has been an increase in Book offs mid pairing.  As your Union, we request the following to set our members up for success.  Prior to reporting for duty self-assess to ensure you are fit to fly.  We recognize things can happen last minute, however it's our individual responsibility to ensure we self-assess. 

Prior to your next flight, take a moment to put your Blue Cross Benefits card in your wallet. On the back of this card is the phone number you need to call if you need medical assistance whenever you are away from base.  Please also save this phone number in your cell phone. 

Finally, always follow the directions given by Med Link. They are the medical professionals in the air or at the gate and will give you the guidance you need. 

Booking Off Upon Reserve Activation: 

The Company has informed us that there has been an increased number of book-offs after reserve activation either immediately while still on the phone with Crew Scheduling or shortly after activation.  Please be advised these incidences are investigated and can, if substantiated, lead to discipline and or termination.  If you require representation, please fill out the contact form here. 

The Future of Swoop: 

This allows my segway into the situation that is of concern to all of us. As your Union wants to reassure you that we are working hard to seek answers to the questions many of us have considering the recent Pilot Tentative Agreement. At this time, other than what has been shared so far there is no new information.  

We became aware that the pilots began voting May 31st, and that voting will end on June 9th. Nothing can be discussed about the future of Swoop until the Pilots Tentative Agreement is ratified. If it is not ratified, then the future of Swoop will stay on course as before there was an Agreement in Principle.  

CUPE 4070 has our National Representatives working diligently on how best to secure our jobs with the Company if the agreement is ratified. It is our responsibility to advocate on behalf of our Swoop Members. 

Once results are known on Friday, we will communicate once we have more information. 

LFA MOA June 2023

Dear Members 

We are pleased to advise that a Memorandum of Agreement has been reached between the Company and Union to provide the LFA role with an increase to the stipend.  

The Company recognizes the importance of this qualification and after reviewing the qualification and in consultation with the Union, we reached an agreement that would increase the current stipend. Please see MOA here.  

The Company has also advised that the LFA role will be provided with enhanced training as well, and a posting will be up later this week.  

If you have more questions, please contact your Base VP or Inflight leader.