FISH-FLY wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 2:52 pm
If WJ Mainline pilots had already extracted gains based on allowing Encore pilots to continue on as members of the WPDL, why is there a vote now to solidify this? Would WJ management not have already ensured this result if they had indeed given up concessions for it during mainline negots? Genuine question, not trying to stir the pot (well, maybe a little bit...).
George Taylor wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2019 6:15 pm
Ummm, SPR what exactly did the WJ MEC gain in regards to the one list? As others have said the company could have solidified this a long time ago.
To answer these questions, in an appropriate manner on a public forum, it is important to understand a quick history of how we got to where we are. I've noticed "George Taylor's" previous references to "An orange little man" and would agree that he takes most of the blame for this mess. Nonetheless, Federal Labour Laws apply and in order to improve the situation for both the WestJet, Encore and Swoop pilots there are certain things that, while seeming like common sense, simply couldn't be done because WJ & Encore were two separate bargaining units and the unions have different duties of care to its members. (As an aside, that's why previous Encore employees that have flowed aren't eligible for the newly negotiated top up pay after flow - The Encore Union can only negotiate an agreement for their current members at the time of the agreement).
During the initial mainline ALPA and company negotiations, there wasn't an opportunity to negotiate the One List due to duty of care issues (the mainline negotiating committee has to negotiate in good faith for its current members). In addition, the Kaplan award wasn't a negotiation - it was an arbitrated agreement. The union and the company agreed to binding arbitration and that's what they got. There wasn't a situation where the company and the union could agree to a specific policy regarding seniority of members not currently in the bargaining unit.
Unfortunately, some aspects of the arbitrated award are taking longer to implement than most had hoped. I completely share the frustrations of the mainline pilots regarding this. The mainline MEC has used the One List to try and hasten the implementation of some of these items and my understanding is that they have been successful. However, while agreed to in principle by all parties, the One List is not something that the company desperately needs (in fact the skeptic in me would say that if the mainline pilots vote against the one list, the company will benefit because the pilot groups now become pitted against each other and not directly by the actions of the company). The company is not going to re-open the arbitrated contract solely for the one list so respectfully, anyone who thinks that the mainline union can use the One List as leverage to improve the conditions at Swoop are severely overestimating their bargaining position. However, the situation now is that with the agreement of a majority of the members, the mainline union can agree to now honour the One List and continue to build unity within the pilot group.
While the are younger pilots at Encore, the more senior ones that stand to lose the most if the One List is voted down are the ones who are in their 30s or 40s, have a family who made the move to Encore because of flow / one list with mainline. This was a term of employment with Encore prior to unionizing (not just a mere promise).
It sucks that we're not all one pilot group yet. I'm hopeful that that is something we can work for. If I honestly thought it was possible I'd be saying so (See my posts from before the groups unionized on why there would be some benefit to the Encore pilots NOT unionizing so that the "single employer" remedy could be available - even though I am and was in favour of unionizing), but at the moment, with three separate companies, two unions, widebodies on the way, Maxes grounded in addition to some challenging financial times, mainline pilots voting for the One List is the next step going forward.