The Unifor union struck a deal with the airline on behalf of the 451 pilots it represents that brought modest wage increases and improvements in other benefits. When the deal was ratified in February, it was hailed as a deal that would bring some stability to all sides in what has been an up-and-down few years for the airline industry. But that optimism began to wane when the airline announced a few weeks later that it had agreed to be acquired by Calgary-based Westjet. The union claims the airline’s management knew the takeover offer was in the works and if they had shared it with the union during negotiations, they would not have made the concessions they did. As a result, the union is filing a formal complaint with the Canada Industrial Relations Board alleging that the company was trading in bad faith by not disclosing its impending sale. “It was of utmost importance to the union to obtain assurances from the employer that it was not discussing a sale to WestJet, as any potential sale would have significant implications for the union’s bargaining positions,” the filing states. CBC News has contacted Sunwing and Westjet for comment. These requests were not returned. Carousels overflowing with luggage have become a regular sight at Canadian airports lately, with scenes like the one at Pearson Airport in Toronto on June 29 being reported across the country. (Patrick Morrell/CBC) While Unifor initially welcomed the merger, they have since said the company is seeking further savings through contract breaches as air travel picks up again due to the pandemic. “What we would like to do is review the areas of the collective agreement that would have been discussed and negotiated differently if the airline had come to us and been honest that these discussions were taking place,” said Barret Armann, president of Unifor Local 7378 ., who represents the pilots, in an interview with CBC News. The union says it doesn’t oppose the merger, but just wants to make sure Sunwing pilots are on a level playing field with other Westjetters if and when it happens. “The company said it was a great expansion plan. We think it’s a great idea, provided there’s wage parity and they’ll agree to whatever deals we come up with,” Armann said. “At the end of the day our pilots don’t want to be kicked down the road to start over.”
Chaos at the airport
Sunwing’s merger with Westjet is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year, both companies have previously said. It was not immediately clear what the board filing meant for the possibility of the deal going through. It already faces several regulatory hurdles, including from Canada’s Competition Bureau, which has already said it plans to review the deal to make sure it’s good for consumers. WATCHES | Why air travel in Canada is so difficult right now:
Staff shortages are responsible for long security lines at Canadian airports
Long security lines at many Canadian airports are a result of staff shortages, officials say. The union representing screening officers suggests recruitment and retention challenges would be solved if workers were better trained and paid more. The prospect of a labor dispute is further bad news for Canada’s troubled travel industry, which has been hit by staff shortages, long lines, rampant delays and baggage headaches amid the pandemic. Armann lays most of the blame for what’s happening at Canada’s airports right now at the feet of the airlines themselves, which cut staff during the pandemic, begged for government help and are now scrambling to grow again. “It’s all a factor that companies are firing everyone and [now] running to the employees saying, “Can you come work for us?” Arman said. “You kicked us to the curb for a year and a half when we could barely pay our mortgages and now you want us to work really hard.” John Gradek, a former Air Canada executive who is now an aviation industry lecturer at McGill University in Montreal, told CBC News on Monday that he expects these issues to persist at least through the summer. “Unless you have a high risk tolerance, it’s probably not a good time to travel,” Gradek said. “Patience is the operative word.”
