September 11, 2017

WestJet Pilots Make History: Begin Negotiations for Airline’s First-Ever Collective Agreement

CALGARY, Alb.—WestJet pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), met with members of WestJet Airlines’ management team today for scheduled contract negotiations, marking the first official labour negotiations under the Canada Labour Code in the history of the airline. Currently, WestJet pilots are the only unionized workforce at the airline.

“About five months ago, the WestJet pilots voted to speak with a collective voice by joining the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l. Today marks a new high-water mark for the WestJet pilots as we formally begin negotiations for our airline’s first collective agreement with our pilots,” said Capt. Rob McFadyen, chairman of the WestJet pilots’ Master Executive Council. “We look forward to productive talks that resolve our mutual concerns while continuing to build a constructive relationship with WestJet’s management team.”

ALPA president Capt. Tim Canoll, commented that, “As we often see in Canada, labour agreement negotiations move at a fast pace, which we expect will continue here as well. By coming to the table prepared and engaging in frank, open discussions, the parties can build an agreement ensuring that WestJet remains a career airline for Canadian aviators.”

WestJet, headquartered in Calgary, is Canada’s second-largest major airline carrier with more than 1,400 pilots based in Calgary, Toronto, and Vancouver. WestJet pilots operate an average of 425 flights per day with service to 100 destinations in Canada, the United States, Europe, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. 

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents over 57,000 pilots at 33 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org or follow us on Twitter @WeAreALPA.

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CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703-481-4440 or Media@alpa.org