More than 500 WestJet employees in Vancouver and Calgary have unionized with Unifor, saying a change in workplace culture after the airlineB次元官网网址檚 sale was a big part of the workplace organization efforts.

The 531 WestJet workers B次元官网网址� which include airport agents such as customer service workers B次元官网网址� join more than 7,000 other unionized airline workers with Unifor under carriers like Air Canada and Air Canada Jazz.

B次元官网网址淵ou went from the perception of B次元官网网址榳eB次元官网网址檙e teammates, itB次元官网网址檚 a family culture,B次元官网网址� to being owned by Onex, which is a huge, huge company,B次元官网网址� said Unifor president Jerry Dias, referencing WestJetB次元官网网址檚 owner, Onex Corp., which acquired the airline nearly two years ago.

B次元官网网址淥nex operated different than the old WestJet for sure, one of the first things that happened was the unilateral outsourcing of so many jobs in some of the smaller bases.B次元官网网址�

The union said the workplace organization efforts will help ensure that senior employees are the first to be called back in an eventual reopening of the airline industry.

WestJet said it has received notice of the unionB次元官网网址檚 successful application and will work through the next steps with the national labour board.

B次元官网网址淲estJet respectsB次元官网网址痶he individual rights of employees to choose their representation and will continue to work withB次元官网网址痶he Canada Industrial Relations Board to provide the outstanding required informationB次元官网网址痠n response to the application,B次元官网网址� said spokeswoman Morgan Bell in an email.

Unifor Organizing Director Kellie Scanlan said conversations with WestJet workers had been going on prior to the pandemic, and moved online after COVID-19 hit.

She said unionization efforts are continuing at WestJetB次元官网网址檚 bases in Toronto and Edmonton as well.

B次元官网网址淲e feel very optimistic about the future of both of those places,B次元官网网址� said Scanlan, who said theyB次元官网网址檙e working on getting more membership cards signed.

B次元官网网址淭his win shows WestJet workers across Canada that they too can gain a voice in the workplace.B次元官网网址�

The union said workplace organization has been part of the successful lobbying effort for financial support for the airline industry from the federal government amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sherwin Antonio, a customer service agent with WestJet in Calgary, said the unionization will help protect workers during the uncertainty of the pandemic.

B次元官网网址淭his last year has been extremely difficult for WestJet employees,B次元官网网址� said Antonio.

B次元官网网址淏eing part of a union will essentially put in place rules and processes for how a growing company handles such difficult times, to ensure fairness and respect for all in the workplace.B次元官网网址�

The union filed their application to the Canada Industrial Relations Board last month, and the board certified Unifor as the bargaining agent for the workers on Thursday.

Unifor is one of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 largest private sector union and represents more than 300,000 workers across the country. It represents more than 16,000 workers across the aviation industry.

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