Notice given: WestJet pilots to strike May 19, 3 a.m., if no agreement is reached

WestJet pilots issued a 72-hour strike discover Monday night.

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) issued a news launch saying discover was given at 8 p.m.

In response, the airline issued a lockout discover.

The ALPA launch stated discover may have been given over the weekend however wasn’t, as a present of fine religion.

“After nine months of negotiating, management still fails to understand today’s labour market conditions, leading to a mass exodus of our pilots in search of better work opportunities, and more will follow if this agreement does not meet our pilots’ needs,” stated Capt. Bernard Lewall, chair of the WestJet ALPA grasp govt council.

“Without the economic and job security improvements our pilots require, WestJet will be parking planes, as they will not have enough pilots to operate them or accomplish its own growth strategy.”

In its personal news launch, WestJet stated it didn’t take its response of a lockout discover flippantly.

“We sincerely regret the inconvenience and uncertainty this continues to cause for our guests,” stated Alexis von Hoensbroech, WestJet Group CEO.

“It is our duty to make sure the security and full management of our community always, to reduce the danger of stranding our visitors, our crews and our plane.

“Our commitment and priority remains at the bargaining table, where we will continue to work around the clock to come to a reasonable agreement as soon as possible, in an effort to prevent labour action.”

The pilots will have the ability to – and ALPA says plan to – start “lawful job action” as of three a.m. on May 19.

ALPA says this might embrace “grounding all aircraft and effectively shutting down operations.”

“Flight disruptions are never an ideal outcome, especially given the tremendous support our guests have shown us, and we want to continue being a major contributor to our company’s success by helping WestJet realize its growth strategy,” Lewall stated in Monday night’s news launch.

“However, WestJet pilots will withdraw our providers to safe a contract that can repair lots of the airline’s labour issues and make it a profession vacation spot for pilots as soon as once more.

“We are hopeful right now’s strike discover submitting will present administration with the motivation to acknowledge simply how dire the scenario is and attain an settlement with us.

“That’s why we will continue to make our negotiators available 24/7 during the remainder of the 72-hour strike notice period.”

WestJet stated within the meantime, it is going to making ready for a piece stoppage.

The airline stated its measures will embrace “beginning preparations to operate on a reduced schedule” and “proactively managing changes and cancellations and providing flexible change and cancel options.”

Canada’s passenger rights guidelines dictate that airways should supply to e book passengers of cancelled flights on a flight with one other airline inside at the very least 48 hours of their departure time.

After that time, passengers can obtain a refund however may additionally settle for a voucher with the airline.

“Just deal with it as it happens,” stated Gabor Lukacs, Canadian air passenger rights advocate.

“Once there’s a strike, that triggers the obligation by WestJet to rebook passengers and offer alternate transportation. If WestJet fails to comply with that obligation, then I would buy a ticket in a different airline and make WestJet pay for it because they breached their contractual and statutory obligations.”

Lukacs steered documenting all interactions with the airline.

“The quality of your documentation will heavily affect your ability to enforce your rights down the line,” he stated. “Don’t count on the airline to play by the e book. They will not, they will not play by the principles, they will attempt to discover each doable trick on the books to keep away from paying.

“Don’t be a pushover. Stand your ground.”