WestJet Mainline/Encore Hiring pool

[Justanotherpilot2]

So a good friend had an interview at Encore recently..... Im wondering if anyone else has been grilled about Unions in the interview. They asked about what he thinks of unions and if he was a part of a union at his current employer, etc. Also asked a lot of overly personal questions. Sounds very unprofessional.

[GARRETT]

So a good friend had an interview at Encore recently..... Im wondering if anyone else has been grilled about Unions in the interview. They asked about what he thinks of unions and if he was a part of a union at his current employer, etc. Also asked a lot of overly personal questions. Sounds very unprofessional.

If it's true, that's total BS. I'm pretty sure they can't ask stuff like that in an interview. Way to stay classy WJ!!!

[No Quarter]

Well they're worried about unions. WJ spent $700 grand fighting against it and now wants the pilots to pay for it through increased PACT dues.....Priceless

[DaveP]

Hi There
As for the WJ ots question - yes we are continuing to do a handfull of interviews.
We are only looking at 2 WJ classes in the first quarter and expecting 50% flow from WJE.

I thought we might open the posting again, but for the amount of hiring in Q1 - there really isn't a need to just yet. We will know more shortly as the summer schedule for 2016 is just being finalized.

As for the union question in an interview - we don't ask that question. What value would an answer have in that question anyway? In simplest terms, that would be considered a discriminating question.

Regarding the personal questions - care to be more specific please?

For more background, the current pilot specific HR people that are running the interviews have years of experience and education including qualifications such as their CHRP - do you really believe they would stray from their scrips and go down the road of discrimination?

Quarter - I have no clue on what the costs are. I couldn't even guess - where did you get that number?
I read the other day where the new dues were going to and for what (from the communication sent out by the wjpa)
Sorry, but I didn't see a specific quote there that you eluded to. (Paying for past legal bills) Where is that documented please? - or is that simply your opinion/assumption? Ahhh - (edit here) - just read the string on westnet. I saw the dollar quote where you got it from.

Thanks and Take care
Dave

[mantogasrsrwy]

So a good friend had an interview at Encore recently..... Im wondering if anyone else has been grilled about Unions in the interview. They asked about what he thinks of unions and if he was a part of a union at his current employer, etc. Also asked a lot of overly personal questions. Sounds very unprofessional.

If it's true, that's total BS. I'm pretty sure they can't ask stuff like that in an interview. Way to stay classy WJ!!!

Ah yes, because it's on AvCanada obviously it must be true.

[altiplano]

Do Westjet pilots pay "dues" for the company to manage their contracts via PACT/WJPA?

[DH772]

Hi There
As for the WJ ots question - yes we are continuing to do a handfull of interviews.
We are only looking at 2 WJ classes in the first quarter and expecting 50% flow from WJE.

I thought we might open the posting again, but for the amount of hiring in Q1 - there really isn't a need to just yet. We will know more shortly as the summer schedule for 2016 is just being finalized.

As for the union question in an interview - we don't ask that question. What value would an answer have in that question anyway? In simplest terms, that would be considered a discriminating question.

Regarding the personal questions - care to be more specific please?

For more background, the current pilot specific HR people that are running the interviews have years of experience and education including qualifications such as their CHRP - do you really believe they would stray from their scrips and go down the road of discrimination?

Quarter - I have no clue on what the costs are. I couldn't even guess - where did you get that number?
I read the other day where the new dues were going to and for what (from the communication sent out by the wjpa)
Sorry, but I didn't see a specific quote there that you eluded to. (Paying for past legal bills) Where is that documented please? - or is that simply your opinion/assumption? Ahhh - (edit here) - just read the string on westnet. I saw the dollar quote where you got it from.

Thanks and Take care
Dave

Honestly DaveP??? I have heard from 2 sources myself that the union question is being asked!

[DaveP]

Hi DH,
It doesn't sound right, but I'll go dig into it next week with the 2 HR recruiters.
Cheers

[twinpratts]

Hi DH,
It doesn't sound right, but I'll go dig into it next week with the 2 HR recruiters.
Cheers

Thank you for caring enough to quash the rumors out there Dave.

[DaveP]

Howdy guys,
I looked into the concerns today along with the recruiting team and pilot hiring coordinator. Indeed we narrowed it all down to a couple recent interviews.
As a result, without going into details around the two discussions, we are all satisfied with the results/review and integrity of the interview that justanotherpilot2 and another colleague did. I'll leave it brief like that, but again, we do not have that specific type of probing in our interview script.
I hope that helps (some). Solid take-away for the pilot hiring team too.
Take care and thanks for bringing the concern forward!
Dave

[leftoftrack]

Howdy guys,
I looked into the concerns today along with the recruiting team and pilot hiring coordinator. Indeed we narrowed it all down to a couple recent interviews.
As a result, without going into details around the two discussions, we are all satisfied with the results/review and integrity of the interview that justanotherpilot2 and another colleague did. I'll leave it brief like that, but again, we do not have that specific type of probing in our interview script.
I hope that helps (some). Solid take-away for the pilot hiring team too.
Take care and thanks for bringing the concern forward!
Dave

Is that management speak for we asked where they stood on unions?

[DaveP]

Hi Left,
As I said in my pm - it’s a tough question to answer. Anything is tough to answer when it concerns interviews because you can’t throw in context and detail etc.
I’m just trying my best to be transparent.
Take care,
Dave

[leftoftrack]

Thanks for the PM.

[Justanotherpilot2]

I dont have the hours to apply yet. But I hope what I hear from my friend isnt true, or at least the issue was resolved internally... Because I have always wanted to work at WJ.

[mantogasrsrwy]

Based on your previous comment, don't you think you would be better off targeting AC?

[mattjvancouver]

Hey guys,
I understand there is no G/S in December, but was there two in November? Also from my friends at Encore they say a ground school a month starting January? Also what are guys waiting on average to get a groundschool at Encore? I had my interview In may and have been patiently waiting...!

[Mooseontheloose]

.

[duramaxguy]

I've heard a groundschool a month in the new year and pretty much entirely yyz based. Sounds like most of the new tail deliveries in the new year are all going to yyz

[watermeth]

this concerns Encore I suppose ?
any info as to when a mainline posting will open ?
thx !

[DaveP]

Hello there,
I believe WJE will be calling with offers for its 1st class in Feb today and tomorrow.

WJ's first class in January was offered earlier this week with the second class in January being offered next week - towards the end.

As for a WJ posting, we still don't see a reason to open the posting in the near future.(maybe not in 2016 at all) With flow increasing in the new agreement to 50% minimum (should it be voted in with the new pilot agreement in hand at WJE) we have enough recently interviewed pilots to supply the 2016 direct entry to WJ demand - as our next course isn't scheduled until April. Subject to change as usual!

Cheers