June 26, 2024
While still waiting for a response to AMFA’s proposal of last night, WestJet initiated yet another lawsuit without prior notice to AMEs’ negotiators. The litigation requests that the government “quash” the AMEs’ strike notice on an “urgent” basis and without a prior hearing.
WestJet accuses AMFA of submitting position statements to the Canada Industrial Relations Board that are “inflammatory” and “offensive.”
However, in its own submission of today, WestJet alleges that an AME strike would place the “company and the traveling public in peril at a critical time.” (emphasis in original).
It is difficult to conceive of a more inflammatory or offensive comment.
The only action that would imperil the traveling public would be a decision, by WestJet, to allow unairworthy aircraft to carry our passengers.
WestJet has conceded that its maintenance operation is understaffed and that it cannot hire AMEs at the wage rates it currently offers.
Seeking appropriate compensation for AMEs does not present a safety risk. To the contrary, such compensation is required to restore a gold standard to a WestJet maintenance operation in decline.
We urge WestJet to spend less time suing and more time negotiating.
Fraternally,
AMFA-WestJet Negotiating Committee
