May 4: “ WestJet issues 72-hour lockout notification” and later related actions
Jun 28, 2024, 11:38 am
#46
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Calgary
Posts: 1,510
I don't favor any compensation for weather delays or mechanical issues as these cannot be controlled and does lead to ticket price increases.
However cancelling flights in advance is a business decision and usually short term so the impact over the longer is minimal. Also the market would prevent one airline that seems to have a problem managing their labor issues with raising fares if they want to stay competitive.
This is true not only of WS but the industry in general. If airlines cannot manage their labor properly than shareholders should take a hit, not the clients. Funny how airlines like Qatar, Emirates, Saudia, Singapore among others never seem to have these issues because their leaders are not afraid of organized labor.
However cancelling flights in advance is a business decision and usually short term so the impact over the longer is minimal. Also the market would prevent one airline that seems to have a problem managing their labor issues with raising fares if they want to stay competitive.
This is true not only of WS but the industry in general. If airlines cannot manage their labor properly than shareholders should take a hit, not the clients. Funny how airlines like Qatar, Emirates, Saudia, Singapore among others never seem to have these issues because their leaders are not afraid of organized labor.
Jun 28, 2024, 7:17 pm
#47
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 653
Well, looks like the strike is on...
https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/news/2...-minister-s-or
WestJet responds to the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) notice that it has commenced strike action as of today, June 28, 2024 at 7:30 pm ET.
“The government has officially stepped in to provide binding arbitration and ensure we get to a resolution; the only reason for this union to continue with a strike action is to create damage, disrupt the travel plans of thousands of Canadians over the July long weekend and to inflict significant costs on our business,” said Diederik Pen, President of WestJet Airlines and Group Chief Operating Officer. “Given arbitration has been ordered, a strike has no leverage on the arbitration’s outcome, so it is pure retaliation of a disappointed union. We are extremely outraged at these actions and will hold AMFA 100 per cent accountable for the unnecessary stress and costs incurred as a result.”
The airline is actively and aggressively pursuing every avenue to minimize disruption, including asking for immediate intervention by the Minister of Labour and the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB). Severe travel disruption is to be expected if the strike is not called off immediately, as the network takedown can no longer happen in the orderly manner that WestJet had originally planned.
“The government has officially stepped in to provide binding arbitration and ensure we get to a resolution; the only reason for this union to continue with a strike action is to create damage, disrupt the travel plans of thousands of Canadians over the July long weekend and to inflict significant costs on our business,” said Diederik Pen, President of WestJet Airlines and Group Chief Operating Officer. “Given arbitration has been ordered, a strike has no leverage on the arbitration’s outcome, so it is pure retaliation of a disappointed union. We are extremely outraged at these actions and will hold AMFA 100 per cent accountable for the unnecessary stress and costs incurred as a result.”
The airline is actively and aggressively pursuing every avenue to minimize disruption, including asking for immediate intervention by the Minister of Labour and the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB). Severe travel disruption is to be expected if the strike is not called off immediately, as the network takedown can no longer happen in the orderly manner that WestJet had originally planned.
Jun 28, 2024, 8:12 pm
#49
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Mostly Canada and the World
Programs: Several
Posts: 488
Code Share
I have a flight next week booked on AeroMexico ticket. It’s an AeroMexico flight number but operated by WestJet YYC-YYZ. Then connecting to an AeroMexixo flight to MEX. Just waiting to hear if AeroMexico will rebook us onto another airline. Not sure how this type of situation works.
Jun 28, 2024, 8:55 pm
#50
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 653
I have a flight next week booked on AeroMexico ticket. It’s an AeroMexico flight number but operated by WestJet YYC-YYZ. Then connecting to an AeroMexixo flight to MEX. Just waiting to hear if AeroMexico will rebook us onto another airline. Not sure how this type of situation works.
Jun 28, 2024, 10:11 pm
#51
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: The World
Programs: WS Platinum, Marriott Titanium, DL Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 1,582
To **** with this union.
Now that I’m following this closely, I’m beginning to see all sorts of AMFA positioning showing up in my feeds. Including many sob story posts from the union.
The essence: WestJet has offered big increases. Those increases would make AMFA the best paid in Canada. The union bosses are angry, and aggrieved, and are victims, and are horribly discriminated against because there are mechanics in one other country (not the one we live in) who make more. And they’re working hard to tell their members that they are aggrieved victims.
News flash: welcome to the real world. In my job, there are absolutely people in more than a few countries who make more than I do. There are also people in a hundred countries doing things like I do who make less than me. The fact that I don’t make the same amount as the best paid people I can find on the planet does not make me a victim.
And the union’s actions while this is in front of CIRB may be illegal. They - and their members - could face fines.
Feds: take action. End this. Get them back to work.
Now that I’m following this closely, I’m beginning to see all sorts of AMFA positioning showing up in my feeds. Including many sob story posts from the union.
The essence: WestJet has offered big increases. Those increases would make AMFA the best paid in Canada. The union bosses are angry, and aggrieved, and are victims, and are horribly discriminated against because there are mechanics in one other country (not the one we live in) who make more. And they’re working hard to tell their members that they are aggrieved victims.
News flash: welcome to the real world. In my job, there are absolutely people in more than a few countries who make more than I do. There are also people in a hundred countries doing things like I do who make less than me. The fact that I don’t make the same amount as the best paid people I can find on the planet does not make me a victim.
And the union’s actions while this is in front of CIRB may be illegal. They - and their members - could face fines.
Feds: take action. End this. Get them back to work.
Jun 28, 2024, 10:47 pm
#52
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: SFO
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100k, UA Silver, AC P25k, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 997
Per the WS travel policy.....they wont even refund basic fares so that people can avoid being stuck....or even the vacation packages are not allowing hotel refunds....
Wow....talk about screwing over the flying public....at least AS refunded miles for hotel bookings for an entire month to not get stuck somewhere when the max 9 cancelations were in effect.....
i definitely know where the Ultrabasic fare has come from.....
Wow....talk about screwing over the flying public....at least AS refunded miles for hotel bookings for an entire month to not get stuck somewhere when the max 9 cancelations were in effect.....
i definitely know where the Ultrabasic fare has come from.....
Jun 28, 2024, 11:24 pm
#53
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: The World
Programs: WS Platinum, Marriott Titanium, DL Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 1,582
Per the WS travel policy.....they wont even refund basic fares so that people can avoid being stuck....or even the vacation packages are not allowing hotel refunds....
Wow....talk about screwing over the flying public....at least AS refunded miles for hotel bookings for an entire month to not get stuck somewhere when the max 9 cancelations were in effect.....
i definitely know where the Ultrabasic fare has come from.....
Wow....talk about screwing over the flying public....at least AS refunded miles for hotel bookings for an entire month to not get stuck somewhere when the max 9 cancelations were in effect.....
i definitely know where the Ultrabasic fare has come from.....
Jun 29, 2024, 12:19 am
#54
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: SFO
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100k, UA Silver, AC P25k, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 997
Jun 29, 2024, 5:41 am
#55
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: ba silver
Posts: 786
This has to stop. Our government needs to put an end to this. The laws need to be enforced and strengthened.
Every available employee should either be at the airport or call center rebooking with whatever option the passenger deems is best for them, with individual employees facing personal fines if they refuse to re-accommodate on the available flight.
Change the law so that strikes/lockouts that inconvenience the public are not allowed. Works in many countries. I would even go further and allow passengers to sue employees and their unions ( or managers and the airline in the case of a lockout).
Every available employee should either be at the airport or call center rebooking with whatever option the passenger deems is best for them, with individual employees facing personal fines if they refuse to re-accommodate on the available flight.
Change the law so that strikes/lockouts that inconvenience the public are not allowed. Works in many countries. I would even go further and allow passengers to sue employees and their unions ( or managers and the airline in the case of a lockout).
Jun 29, 2024, 6:20 am
#56
Join Date: Dec 2023
Location: Southern Ontario
Programs: Aeroplan, NEXUS
Posts: 335
This is not an illegal strike at least for the moment. WestJet failed at the bargaining table and convinced the Minister to use his bully stick on their workers. The union didn't ask for arbitration and still retain their right to strike. So sad that grandma can't fly to Calgary this weekend but strikes inconvenience people which is why they are an important lever for labor unions seeking fair wages and working conditions.
Last edited by Heyden; Jun 29, 2024 at 10:42 am
Jun 29, 2024, 6:40 am
#57
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 356
Grandma can't fly to calgary?
my entire European vacation hinges on this flight. An itinerary that I have made before twice without issue on AC. Had heard good things about Westjet.
no this is a private equity firm trying to extract every last dollar from its customers. I have multiple stories over past 6 months of WJ customers getting screwed
my entire European vacation hinges on this flight. An itinerary that I have made before twice without issue on AC. Had heard good things about Westjet.
no this is a private equity firm trying to extract every last dollar from its customers. I have multiple stories over past 6 months of WJ customers getting screwed
Jun 29, 2024, 6:59 am
#58
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 8,113
This is not an illegal strike. The minister ordered binding arbitration. He didn't order the employees to stay on the job.
As for countries that have anti labour laws. Those same countries also have many anti other group laws too.
Be careful what you wish for.
Jun 29, 2024, 8:56 am
#59
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 286
WestJet must have updated their cancellation policies since the earlier posts on this thread. I was able to cancel my flight online this morning (scheduled to depart at 16:15) even though it has not *yet* been officially cancelled by WJ. A full refund will be issued (not a credit) for any itineraries from June 28–July 1.
Not thrilled about having to fly with Spirit out of Detroit instead, but I’m grateful we at least had options when so many others have none.
Not thrilled about having to fly with Spirit out of Detroit instead, but I’m grateful we at least had options when so many others have none.
Jun 29, 2024, 9:21 am
#60
Join Date: Jun 2024
Posts: 1
To **** with this union.
Now that I’m following this closely, I’m beginning to see all sorts of AMFA positioning showing up in my feeds. Including many sob story posts from the union.
The essence: WestJet has offered big increases. Those increases would make AMFA the best paid in Canada. The union bosses are angry, and aggrieved, and are victims, and are horribly discriminated against because there are mechanics in one other country (not the one we live in) who make more. And they’re working hard to tell their members that they are aggrieved victims.
Now that I’m following this closely, I’m beginning to see all sorts of AMFA positioning showing up in my feeds. Including many sob story posts from the union.
The essence: WestJet has offered big increases. Those increases would make AMFA the best paid in Canada. The union bosses are angry, and aggrieved, and are victims, and are horribly discriminated against because there are mechanics in one other country (not the one we live in) who make more. And they’re working hard to tell their members that they are aggrieved victims.
These AME's are working outside, in the rain, in the snow, nights, weekends, holidays, Christmas, birthdays, with biohazardous materials, noise over 110db, with mega-cancer chemicals which explicitly states it is a carcinogen, at heights over 10m over ground, maintaining and releasing aircrafts that will fly 10km over the ground at 900kmh with 200 souls on board. One critical error will cause a crater of smoldering aluminum, just to make less money than mechanics in your nearby auto dealerships?
I do not know if you felt the same way when the pandemic happened and majority of the flights were cancelled and many travel plans were ruined, or when 737 max were grounded and many flights were cancelled as a result. Did you feel the same level of anger and frustration against Boeing or the governments preventing travels? Just because these 700 or so workers working silently, day and nights behind the scenes, are easy targets?
You may not feel the sympathy for what WJ AME's are striving for but they've been negotiating with the company for months and WJ's executives most recent offer was a 1% raise?? That is literally being spat on your face. It is unfortunate for the flying public but it is time for WJ management to face their consequences of their lack of proper compensation for what these AME's do. Times of cheap and plentiful skilled labor is no longer a thing in Canada. We see news of impending strikes at Airbus Canada factory workers in Quebec, Toronto's public transit workers, LCBO, etc and its not going to get any better.