Air

CALGARY – WestJet workers in Calgary and Vancouver have voted overwhelmingly to support the bargaining committee and take strike action if a deal cannot be reached, as early as July 27, 2022, says Unifor.

“The union is fighting for better wages,” said Scott Doherty, Executive Assistant to Unifor’s National President. 

TORONTO – Following a recent bad faith bargaining complaint by Sunwing pilots at the Canada Industrial Relations Board, Sunwing announced that it plans on revoking the company’s Pilot Loss of License insurance as of July 31, 2022, as a cost-cutting measure.

TORONTO – Sunwing pilots filed a complaint at the Canada Industrial Relations Board Monday, July 4, 2022, alleging their employer bargained in bad faith during a recent round of negotiations because the employer already knew the company was being sold to WestJet.

“Despite management reassurances that the company was not a candidate for a sale or merger, Sunwing was sold to WestJet shortly after the collective agreement was signed – a huge slap in the face,” said Scott Doherty, Unifor’s Executive Assistant to the National President.

CALGARY–GardaWorld workers at the Calgary airport voted overwhelmingly to join Canada’s largest private sector union late Thursday night.

“We’re thrilled to welcome GardaWorld workers to the Unifor family,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “Unifor is committed to improving working conditions and providing skilled representation during bargaining.”

There were 704 GardaWorld security agents who chose Unifor over CLAC in a representation vote held on May 16 to 19, 2022.

TORONTO – The Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA), Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), and Unifor are launching a public campaign calling on the Government of Canada to secure the safe return of five Canadians who have been arbitrarily imprisoned in the Dominican Republic after reporting a crime they were not involved in.

TORONTO –Pilots are objecting to a new Sunwing Airlines policy that stops paying them if flights are stuck on the tarmac due to long line-ups at airport customs.

“If pilots are onboard, they’re working and they deserve to be paid,” said Scott Doherty, Executive Assistant to the Unifor National President.

In other Canadian airlines, pilots from long-haul international flights have mostly been staying onboard with pay, while short-haul pilots have been getting off their aircrafts.

Unifor, through the Women’s Department, has partnered with the Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children (CREVAWC) at Western University to examine sexual harassment in the hospitality, gaming and airline sectors.

Through an anonymous survey, the group aims to identify actions to prevent and respond to sexual harassment and violence at work and to support workers.

TORONTO – Unifor welcomes today’s WestJet announcement of its purchase of Sunwing and Sunwing Vacations.

“Congratulations to WestJet and Sunwing for reaching a deal,” said Scott Doherty, the Executive Assistant to the Unifor’s National President. “With the federal government lifting travel restrictions and more Canadians travelling more for business and pleasure, we look forward to fostering good relationships between WestJet and Sunwing in their new capacity.”

TORONTO – Unifor welcomes today’s announcement by the federal government to lift several travel restrictions as of Feb. 28, 2022.

“Canadians are ready to travel for work and for pleasure,” said Scott Doherty, the Executive Assistant to Unifor's National President. “Having these rules lifted will not only encourage more people to want to travel, but it removes some of the red tape for those returning to Canada.”

Perimeter Aviation flight attendants have ratified a new two-year contact with the Winnipeg-based airline.

The deal was ratified on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, after Unifor Local 2002 conducted two Zoom meetings with the 46 Perimeter Aviation members to review of the employer’s final contract offer.

“Unifor has been fighting to Build Back Better and get the aviation industry back up and running as we emerge out of COVID-19 and into the recovery stage,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.