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AMFA- WestJet/Sunwing Integration Update
Jan 17, 2025

Participants for AMFA:
Will Abbott – Region II Director
Ian Evershed –Airline Representative
Samuel Seham – Legal Counsel

Participants for IAMAW:
Lou Pagrach – International Representative (via Zoom)
Aminah Hanif – Legal Counsel

Participants for WestJet/Sunwing:
Gandeephan Ganeshalingam – Senior Vice President Tech Ops
Marek Grzesiowski – Sunwing Vice President Maintenance and Engineering
Jason Begley – Director, Labour Relations
Virginia Swindall – Senior Manager, Labour Relations
Darren Cook – Senior Manager, Line Maintenance
Amanda Cohen – Legal Counsel
Richard Tanner – Associate General Counsel
Alex Hunt – Corporate Counsel – Labor Relations
Alisha Visanji – Cost Controller
Sarah Iverson – Labour Relations Advisor


Dear WestJet Aviation Tradesmen:

On December 17, 2024, the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) ordered AMFA, the IAMAW, and WestJet to discuss issues arising out of the merger of WestJet and Sunwing. Under the Canada Labour Code, the Board must afford the parties an opportunity to resolve issues on their own before it can refer outstanding disputes to binding arbitration. Pursuant to the Board’s order, the parties met on January 14-15, 2025, in the Board’s offices in Toronto.

AMFA’s goal in these talks was to secure recognition for the industry-changing contract it achieved this summer through its members’ solidarity and collective strength. It also sought to uplift the AME profession and preserve the craft solidarity of both WestJet and former Sunwing employees.

After marathon bargaining sessions, lasting past midnight on both days, the parties reached a tentative agreement with the following key terms, subject to review and approval by the Board:

  • AMFA recognized as successor bargaining agent for the combined group
  • Seniority integration by time spent in a position covered by the WestJet collective agreement
  • WestJet members to have first refusal of premium position vacancies until contract expiration
  • Six (6) OL positions established in Toronto exclusively for WestJet members
  • Three (3) Sr. Spec Tech Servs positions established in Calgary exclusively for WestJet members
  • One (1) Maintenance Control position established in Calgary exclusively for WestJet members
  • One (1) OL position established in Vancouver exclusively for WestJet members
  • OL position pay anniversary date restored to initial date of hire
  • Additional two-hundred twenty-five (225) union business hours added annually to Union bank
  • Company commitments to improve and develop OT fair distribution
  • Company commitment to education and compliance of AOG call-out process
  • AMFA embroidered polo (non-uniform) to be available through Company platform

In the next several months, Sunwing employees will join the WestJet ranks in the following classifications and bases:

  • Maintenance Planner x 4 (YYZ)
  • Day of Operations Planner x 1 (YYC)
  • Maintenance Controller x 3 (YYC)
  • Senior Fleet Engineer x 3 (YYZ)
  • Instructor x 1 (YYZ)
  • Technical Representative x 2 (YYZ)
  • Senior Power Plant Engineer (YYZ)
  • Operation Lead x 1 (YVR)
  • Operation Lead x 6 (YYZ)
  • AME x 22 (YYZ)
  • AME x 4 (YVR)
  • AME Apprentice x 2 (YYZ)

For these Sunwing employees, AMFA extends a warm welcome to the only trade union in North America exclusively dedicated to representing skilled aviation crafts and trades.

Fraternally,

AMFA-WestJet Negotiating Committee


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AMFA
7853 E. Arapahoe Court, Suite 1100
Centennial, CO 80112
  303-752-2632

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