June 29, 2024
VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL
Angela Avery
Group EVP, Corporate
WestJet
Re: WestJet’s Unlawful Threats Targeting Workers Engage in Lawful Strike Action
Dear Ms. Avery:
We are in receipt of your letter dated June 28, 2024, insinuating, but devoid of the conviction to state, that WestJet’s AMEs are engaged in an illegal strike.
You have chosen your words cleverly. You tiptoe to the edge of defamation without crossing the line.
The truth is that, on the same day as your letter, the Canada Industrial Relations Board, in Order No. 1554-NB, stated in stark terms:
[T]he Board heard arguments from the parties on the effect of the binding arbitration directed by the ministerial referral on the union’s right to strike …
[T]he Board finds that the ministerial referral does not have the effective of suspending the right to strike….
WestJet has issued a lockout notice, which it has not rescinded. Similarly, the AMEs are exercising their constitutional right to withhold their labour.
WestJet provoked this collective action by a long history of bad faith bargaining only some of which is reflected in AMFA’s charges pending before the CIRB. This failure to bargain persists to this date with WestJet’s abrupt cessation of negotiations in Toronto and the cancellation of our scheduled meetings in Calgary.
On June 28, I wrote to WestJet Senior Manager – Labour Relations Virginia Swindall advising her that AMFA representative would meet anytime, anyplace to resolve the current lockout/strike situation. The response – deafening silence.
Your letter concludes with the threat directed at your workers that, in retaliation for the exercise of their right to withhold their services, they “may be disciplined up to and including termination…” Throughout the system, WestJet managers are making similar threats.
The Canada Labour Code prohibits retaliation against employees engaged in a lawful strike. We demand that WestJet publish a notice rescinding these threats no later than 12 noon EST June 30. In the absence of such a publication, AMFA will file appropriate charges with the CIRB.
Sincerely,
Bret Oestreich
AMFA National President