Confessions of a YYC Travel Junkie

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by D as in David

I've done a complete 180, in general, on my views towards unions due to the increasing income disparity in the world. Sky-high executive pay versus compensation workers receive at the other end has me supportive of unions. I never would have thought I'd come around on that.

Glad to hear that you’ve seen the light!

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by btimbit

According to AME's on Reddit WestJet still hasn't made a counter offer all weekend. Sticking to their last one from before the strike. They seem hell bent on waiting for the government arbitration

Arbitration will likely take months to get to. My guess is if anything they’re gambling on public outcry being strong enough that parliament passes back to work legislation.

Seriously. Claiming 22% wage increases over 4 years but slashing their savings plan by 10% and pretending it's actually a step forward is just insane

From what I heard from one of the striking mechanics the company is trying to reduce the current 20% savings plan down to 10%. Which would make it a 50% reduction from the status quo. Take that for what it’s worth.

[btimbit]

90 days for arbitration is what I heard

And yeah I already fixed my math, tried to ninja edit that in there but you beat me, haha.

So I guess the way it works is RRSP/TFSA matching to 9%, then a further 11% in a deferred savings plan, for a total of 20% matching. Which is pretty solid, but trying to sink that down to 5% each is dirty.

It's what they tried to do to the Encore pilots as well, except for them it was already at 10% and WJ wanted to slash that down to 5%. I think now for them it's still 10%, then 15% after 5 years employment

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by btimbit

90 days for arbitration is what I heard

And yeah I already fixed my math, tried to ninja edit that in there but you beat me, haha.

So I guess the way it works is RRSP/TFSA matching to 9%, then a further 11% in a deferred savings plan, for a total of 20% matching. Which is pretty solid, but trying to sink that down to 5% each is dirty.

It's what they tried to do to the Encore pilots as well, except for them it was already at 10%. I think now for them it's still 10%, then 15% after 5 years employment

Smells like the standard union busting tactic used on newly organized groups. The company digs their heels in on a concession so that if the company successfully pulls a fast one they can spend the entirety of the contract subtly trying to convince the employees to decertify since they took a loss in their first collective agreement.

[Meelapo]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

Arbitration will likely take months to get to. My guess is if anything they’re gambling on public outcry being strong enough that parliament passes back to work legislation.



From what I heard from one of the striking mechanics the company is trying to reduce the current 20% savings plan down to 10%. Which would make it a 50% reduction from the status quo. Take that for what it’s worth.

This is what WestJet did for employees that transferred to Swoop. They were deemed as lesser employees and therefore received half the benefits of a regular WestJetter.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by Meelapo

This is what WestJet did for employees that transferred to Swoop. They were deemed as lesser employees and therefore received half the benefits of a regular WestJetter.

With such wonderful treatment one can’t help but wonder what could have ever convinced their employees to unionize.

[Meelapo]

I will say that after being an employee for 12 years before leaving and being witness to the tomfoolery that went on up to the highest level, this whole situation doesn’t surprise me one bit.

[Ryan Coke]

Looks like they have reached a TA and the strike is over.

[btimbit]

Yeah just heard the same thing. TA reached, AME's returning to work immediately

Edit. Now confirmed publicly

https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/news/2...to-amfa-strike

[Acey]

Monday is still fataed as most stuff will not get un-cancelled, and stuff into Tuesday night be screwed too. So just keep an eye on the status of your flight if flying in the next 72 hours cause maintenance has a lot of catching up to do and planes are out of position.

[btimbit]

Yeah going to take quite a while to stand the fleet back up and clear the IROP backlog

But it should at least mean the number of cancellations will start decreasing, instead of increasing

[Acey]

Yeah Monday departures out of YYC for WestJet still looks like well over 50% cancelled but Tuesday as of now showing only one so... going to be a Canada Day Herculean effort to right the ship by the Tuesday.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

Looks like they have reached a TA and the strike is over.

Crazy. They somehow managed to get a deal done without the need for government intervention. Who would have thought?

[RichieRich]

Flight got cancelled, approx 1 hr later I hear of agreement, no return of flight in 12 hours time. Online and App “manage trips” useless and no longer show my flight. WestJet helpless desk overloaded and not accepting calls. Now what?

[btimbit]

Sadly there's not much you can do other than make alternative plans and get your refund from the cancelled flight

[RichieRich]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Sadly there's not much you can do other than make alternative plans and get your refund from the cancelled flight

Yet I can now book WJ for 2 days time, single direction, for what I’d paid return. And that 2 days is within the 48hrs window and they somehow couldn’t put me on it automatically.

[btimbit]

They likely could rebook you, just a matter of whether you want to sit on hold for several hours

Such a joke that that option isn't available to you via any self serve method

Originally Posted by Meelapo

This is what WestJet did for employees that transferred to Swoop. They were deemed as lesser employees and therefore received half the benefits of a regular WestJetter.

I love that this is a verb now. A post I just read on the new AME deal:

"Here's hoping their WSP didn't get swooped"

[Meelapo]

Originally Posted by btimbit

They likely could rebook you, just a matter of whether you want to sit on hold for several hours

Such a joke that that option isn't available to you via any self serve method



I love that this is a verb now. A post I just read on the new AME deal:

"Here's hoping their WSP didn't get swooped"

It's funny and sad at the same time.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by D as in David

Profits going towards stock buybacks instead of increasing wages is a particular gear grinder for me.

And if there are no profits, do wages go down?

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

And if there are no profits, do wages go down?

Since WJ does profit sharing, yeah pretty much