Calgary-based airline WestJet has issued a 72-hour lockout notice to the union representing its mechanics, and warns a work stoppage could happen as early as Tuesday.
On Saturday, Westjet issued the union that represents its aircraft maintenance engineers a lockout notice which will effectively bar workers from entering their workplace.
The carrier says in a statement that the decision follows an announcement of a strike vote by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, which represents approximately 670 aircraft maintenance engineers and skilled trade groups with the carrier.
Diederik Pen, President of WestJet Airline and Group Chief Operating Officer said,
“The decision to issue a lockout notice was not one that was made lightly, and we sincerely regret and apologize for the uncertainty this causes for our guests and the communities and regions that rely on us. Despite our unwavering commitment to reach a collective agreement, AMFA continues to show up to the bargaining table with unreasonable demands and expectations.”
In Canada, a lockout notice is essentially the opposite of an employee-initiated strike, in which the employer closes the workplace and stops paying its employees until a new contract has been reached with the union.
The union is currently negotiating its first collective agreement with the airline, and has warned travellers in social media posts against booking with WestJet in the near future, “as a work stoppage may result in unwanted delays and disruptions.”
Wages, role outsourcing, scheduling and layoff protection have been cited by the union as issues in the negotiations with the carrier.
Earlier, the AMFA National had blamed the management of creating a toxic culture, it said,
WestJet mechanics are underpaid & undervalued & rather than management working with them like they say are, they’ve only made the culture more toxic. Like, comment, save and share to show your support for the WestJet mechanics.
As per the company press release, the WestJet Group has been in active labour negotiations with AMFA since September 2023.
The WestJet Group said to have presented an offer to AMFA that would make WestJet Aircraft Maintenance Engineers the highest paid in Canada, with a cumulative wage increase of over 20 per cent across the span of the collective agreement.
West jet further added that the offer would also deliver industry leading work-life balance standards and strong commitments to job security.
Supporting the decision of the ground engineers, the pilots' association WestJet ALPA Pilots said,
Our highly skilled Aircraft Maintenance Engineers(AMEs) are currently negotiating for a fair industry standard contract. Today WestJet served our AMEs with a 72 hour lockout notice. We stand with our colleagues from AMFA and support their contract negotiation efforts.
WestJet president Diederik Pen says in the airline's statement that the decision to issue a lockout notice wasn't made lightly, but that the union continues to show up to the bargaining table with what he calls “unreasonable demands and expectations.”
“With AMFA publicly issuing a strike vote alert last week and publicly directing guests to fly with other carriers, we can't allow the unpredictable nature and lack of progress to continue. We are left with no alternative but to issue a lockout notice in an attempt to bring this to a final resolution,” Pen said in his statement.
WestJet said the 72-hour lockout notice does not mean travel disruption will occur. But it said it will take steps in the coming days to mitigate any possible impacts, such as preparing to operate a reduced schedule and providing flexible change and cancel options for customers.
So, the scenario is ,if Westjet fails to come to an understanding/ agreement with the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association by midday on Tuesday, May 7, then the engineers will be locked out of the workplace and go unpaid until Westjet lifts the lockout notice.
You may like to read.....
