Bargaining 2026

The negotiation process between committees representing the employer and its employees, as represented by the union through a bargaining unit, that leads to a collective agreement. 

A group of employees who are represented by the same union and are covered by the same collective agreement. 

A collective agreement is a contract between the employer WestJet, and you and your co-workers UNIFOR Local 531. Collective agreements are only in effect for a defined period of time and set the terms and conditions of employment.

At the bargaining table, you are not just represented by UNIFOR National Representatives, you are also represented by your bargaining committee. This committee is made up of rank-and-file members from a variety of bases and departments. Each committee member is selected following Local bylaws or by holding elections. 

A bargaining committee represents all members of a bargaining unit by acting as a democratically elected, diverse group of peers who gather input, set priorities, and negotiate with the employer on behalf of the entire workforce. These committees ensure inclusive representation by including representatives from various departments, locations, and job classifications. 

Your bargaining committee’s primary goal is to negotiate the best possible contract for all members.

• Defining Goals: Researching and formulating bargaining proposals based on member feedback and industry trends.
• Negotiating Directly: Meeting with the employer to argue for the proposals developed by the membership.
• Maintaining Solidarity: Presenting a united front and acting as a team to advance the interests of all members rather than special interests.
• Leveraging Expertise: Utilizing support from professional union staff to strengthen their bargaining position. 

• Know fellow members and the different departments within our workplace well  
• Be familiar with WestJet practices and policies  
• High-level of familiarity and understanding of our current Collective Agreement
• Must be interested in getting members involved by encouraging them to think about various aspects of the contract or their work life that are of special interest and encourage them to submit their own thoughtful proposals.
• Once the proposals have been drafted, bargaining committee members must be diligent to keep this and all other information confidential within the committee.

• Work collaboratively as a committee.
• Present a united front when meeting with employer.
• Committee members are elected to represent the entire membership, not their own agenda, or the agenda of a small group of members.
• Stay connected to the membership throughout bargaining.
• Never talk to the employer about bargaining outside of the bargaining meetings.
• Take notes, to the best of your ability, of what is said at the bargaining table with the employer (notes will be collected at the end of bargaining).
• Plan to attend all bargaining meetings starting with preparation, through to ratification.
• Be prepared for some long days and to change personal plans to accommodate the needs of the bargaining committee.

• Enjoy the opportunity to learn, grow, and meet other activists. 

UNIFOR National Staff Representatives

Primary - TBD

Voice and Vote Privilege Bargaining Committee Members

President – Erica Kelly

YVR Unit Chair – Heather Benson

YVR Member – To be elected

YYC Unit Chair – Sherwin Antonio

YYC Member – To be elected

YYZ Unit Chair – Jamillah Mensah

YYZ Member – To be elected

Base Alternates 

(Roundtable leaders in Q3. Not present for negotiations. May hold Voice & Vote Privilege only when standing in-place for an absent primary representative from their base.)

YVR Alternate – To be elected

YYC Alternate – To be elected

YYZ Alternate – To be elected

Admin - Recording Secretary Kristie Illogho

(Present for negotiations, no voice no vote.)

Special Consults 

(Topical specialists called upon for information throughout the bargaining process.)

Equity Representatives and Advocates

Health & Safety - to be appointed

Ramp Services – to be appointed

Baggage – to be appointed

Casual Status – to be appointed

Airport Operations – to be appointed

Workforce – to be appointed 

Bargaining is a cycle that officially begins when the union gives “Notice to Bargain,” signaling to WestJet that we’re ready to come to the table. At the table, a committee of your peers (the Bargaining Committee) presents proposals, and WestJet counters with their own proposals. The two parties negotiate until an agreement is reached. The new agreement only becomes official when you, the UNIFOR Local 531 membership ratifies it through a Ratification Vote at the end of the process.

Through negotiations, the UNIFOR Local 531 Bargaining Committee and the employer’s representatives reach a collective agreement which contains provisions establishing the terms and conditions of employment, paid and unpaid leave, rates of pay, hours of work, and the rights and duties of the parties to the agreement.

A bargaining demand is any improvement or change you would like to see in your collective agreement. It can involve wages, benefits, working conditions, changes to language, and much more. These demands or proposals are drafted by the bargaining committee after your input via bargaining surveys and other submissions, and may be voted on by the Bargaining Committee members before being brought into negotiations with the employer.

There are some issues that we do not bargain. Some topics may already be sufficiently covered by the Canadian Labour Code or may be considered WestJet-wide policies applied to all WestJet employees, not just those covered by our Collective Agreement. While such topics may be touched on in some way in some negotiated articles, you may not see detailed inclusion of the topic in our collective agreement e.g. Travel Privileges, Retirement 

Our first Collective Agreement is set to expire on December 31, 2026. 

Bargaining Notice will be filed October 2, 2026.

The length of the bargaining process will depend on how the negotiations play out. There are no set timelines for bargaining, and it may last for months. After the current collective agreement expired on December 31, 2026, it remains in effect until a new collective agreement has been reached. 

You can find UNIFOR Local 531’s first Collective Bargaining Agreement on this website's Resources Page, your WestJet-issued tablets, or communal printed copies placed throughout our workplace.

Bargaining is collective effort. Rather than negotiating your terms of employment individually, the union leverages the collective power of all members to ensure you get the best deal possible.

This bargaining process is what shapes your collective agreement, and your collective agreement is what shapes everything from your working conditions to your salary. 

The more you follow this process – and participate where you can – the more likely you are to end up with working conditions that meet your needs.

The Local will send you regular updates via your personal email and post updates on this website. Make sure your contact information is up to date within the WestJet JDE system as this is where our membership contact lists are provided from monthly. 

If you have specific questions during bargaining, you can send them to @email

Collective bargaining begins and ends with members, so it is crucial that you make sure your bargaining team knows your priorities. How can they represent you to the employer if you’re not telling them what you want? When bargaining surveys come out, please always take a few minutes to complete them.

Secondly, you will also have the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback to your bargaining team throughout the process through events (online and in-person) and via email. Your bargaining team wants and needs to hear from you.

Finally, it is very important that you read all communications from your Union, and that you show up to any events. This will ensure that you have the most current information on the process. It will also enable you to chat with your colleagues about bargaining. 

Generally, yes. Once your new collective agreement is ratified and signed, the implementation of the new agreement begins. This will include any pay increases that need to be applied retroactively. The retroactive payment period starts from when the previous collective agreement expired and ends when your salary is adjusted to reflect the new rates of pay. Once your new collective agreement is ratified and signed and implementation begins, your bargaining team will provide updates on how and when you can expect your retro pay.