WestJet pilots voted in favour of forming a union last Friday.
While WestJet is known for making their employees feel a sense of ownership in the company, the final numbers showed that pilots are ready for change.
In 2015, WestJet pilots voted against creating a union, but as of December 2016, WestJet pilots had approached the Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA).
On May 12th, the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) announced that more than 1,400 pilots at WestJet voted for representation by the Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA).
"With 97 per cent of eligible pilots participating in the election, 62 per cent voted in favour of joining the world's largest pilot union, sending a strong message that WestJet pilots recognize the importance of world-class representation and a collective agreement under Part 1 of the Canada Labour Code," said a spokesperson for ALPA.
"WestJet pilots told us that it's time for a certified union, and the Organizing Committee worked hard to build unity within their group," said ALPA president, Capt. Tim Canoll. "With ALPA representation, pilot unity plays an integral role in supporting the process of negotiating a legally binding collective agreement."
"We as WestJet pilots need the best possible support for ourselves and our families - health, retirement, fatigue, safety, family support, legal protection, and more - and today, we pledged that ALPA will help our pilot group provide that support moving forward," said Capt. Rob McFadyen, a member of the WestJet ALPA Organizing Committee.
WestJet also released a statement on Friday expressing their disappointment with the final results of the vote.
"We are disappointed with the outcome of the vote but we are dedicated to moving forward as a team," stated Gregg Saretsky, president and CEO of WestJet. "We will now focus on engaging in constructive dialogue with ALPA and concentrate on the continued success of the organization for guests, employees and shareholders."
WestJet has been operating since 1996 and hosts more than 500,000 guests per year with more than 600 flights per day.
