So what you are saying then is that all your previous negotiated CBAs did not have the collective membership's best interests at heart? It was simply agreements to satisfy corporate direction?
You are still confused. You cannot have a Collective Bargaining Agreement(CBA) with out certified representation. The proposed, current and previous "Agreements" are just the pilot specific Company policies dressed up to look like a traditional pilot contract. WJPA has no "agency of authority" to negotiate anything on behalf of anyone, legally. Anything in any pilot "Agreement" at WJ is amendable at the will of the Company WITHOUT RECOURSE for the "Association". While WJ pilots have done well in overall compensation, at the highest levels of the pay scale, and finally obtained reasonable benefits, it can be demonstrated(in fact, I know it to be true) this occurred because of the THREAT of unionization and the previous founders & CEOs irrational fears of such. It always comes down to two things to managers, money and control. WJ was willing to give a bit more money, very unevenly I might add, to maintain tighter control over all policy. Look past the top Captain pay scale. Look at the rest of what is in these "Agreements", they are laughable to anyone who understands labour representation. WestJet has most subjective and draconian Upgrade process I have ever seen among any and all Airlines across this industry. I don't see anyone else demanding an FO accept their non-appealable fate then having to sign a humiliating letter or "they will offered the option of terminating their employment with WestJet".
The current associations cost are fronted by the company? Wild.
True! Employees pay $2.50 per cheque but that comes nowhere near the costs incurred. In fact, a very good portion of that money is just accumulating in a bank account, for reasons unknown. The top two Pilot Reps get nearly full pay from the Company plus they can bill overtime. They get stipends and sometimes confirmed pass travel for themselves and their families for vacation at least once a year. Its all in a document called the "PACT MoA". PACT has no legal standing whatsoever. It is not a corporation, not a registered trade union, not some sort of non-profit and certainly not a person. SO, it cannot own any assets (there is no WJPA bank account, just a PACT one) it cannot be sued or held liable for any actions. Have a look at the PACT BoD Rep's pay in the AGM circulars over the last several years. Thats all paid by the Company. Offices, meeting space, equipment and communications are all provided for and remain under the control of the Company. I think they have their own "imPACT" pens and tote bags though.
But, even those are property & copyright of WestJet.
How is the current association NOT autonomous?
I think much of what has been posted about PACT/WJPA should make that pretty obvious? They almost never meet without management present. Again, they are obligated to put the Company's interests first and they are still acting as employees bound by the Business Code of Conduct while doing "Association" work.
Careful with that one. We just had a FOS forced on us after the corporation failed to bargain in good faith and government intervention which stripped any industrial action. Under this federal government, your "right" to bargain in good faith is all smoke and mirrors.
Many of us intimately know all about what happens over at AC world. We have countless friends, relatives even spouses there. Who can know what happens in the macro-picture, its a political world. But, those politics swing back and forth over time. Air Canada is a unique situation, ACPPA means you still are a bit different type of Corporation. Lots of history. Powerful, very deep rooted politics & lobbying involved. Potential re-entry into bankruptcy was touted. Those were all factors in why you ended up in that situation. Remember, we were the bar for Rouge narrow body WACON too. SO, I think its in your best interest to see us do better.
IF WPPA and Company reach an impasse on a first collective agreement, I am pretty confident that any arbitrator will compare us to you as primary competitor more and not Canadian North as much as present management does here(who define the whole compensation process without any verification by our "Association").
Its not all about one big negotiation every few years, representation is about a lot of little details everyday. Those of you with REAL representation should not take for granted the most basic rights you have. I don't think basic third party arbitration, especially on matters of contract adherence or discipline is "smoke and mirrors".
Let me ask you this. Does the existing association have an industrial action committee? A group that understands how to apply pressure for collective gains legally under Canadian Labour Law and CARs?
Nope! Dude, the present "Association" isn't even a real kindergarten yet and you are talking undergraduate studies…
However, WPPA will have lots of committees(not just 7 super best friends of management) and no doubt some will deal with matters of professional & labour rights (I'll volunteer for that one myself!) and we won't need the VP of Ops permission to participate or get threatened for "talking to others" anymore.
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