WestJet, flight attendants reach tentative agreement

Airline's first agreement focuses on people, shared interest and sustainability

CALGARY, Oct. 27, 2014 /CNW/ - WestJet today announced it has reached a tentative agreement with WestJet's Flight Attendant Association Board (FAAB). The proposed agreement is available to WestJet flight attendants for review beginning October 31, 2014, and voting begins November 10, 2014, at 9 a.m. MST.

"Our goal throughout the process was to offer a tremendously fair and balanced agreement for everyone involved," said Anthony Pascale, FAAB Chair. "From the beginning, our focus has been on the interests of our people, and on building a sustainable process that allows us to move forward together. I firmly believe this focus has resulted in an industry-leading proposal."

"I am very excited to present this tentative agreement to our flight attendants," said Tyson Matheson, WestJet Vice-President, Inflight. "We were looking to accomplish several ambitious goals with WestJet's first flight attendant agreement, including industry-leading total compensation with competitive work rules, standardized processes that flight attendants can trust and a framework to continue open and honest dialogue between WestJetters. Thanks to the incredible commitment of our flight attendant representatives, I believe we have met these goals in a way only WestJet can. I am proud of all we have accomplished as a team."

The WestJet Inflight leadership team and FAAB began negotiations in May 2014, to develop a tentative agreement to replace the flight attendants' memorandum of agreement.

WestJet and FAAB have committed, in writing, to honour all facets of the tentative agreement, which covers a five-year term, and changes may only be made through negotiations with flight attendants. There is also a clear and enforceable dispute resolution process in place.

About WestJet

We are proud to be Canada's most-preferred airline, powered by an award-winning culture of care and recognized as one of the country's top employers. We offer scheduled service to more than 90 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe. Through our regional airline, WestJet Encore, and with partnerships with airlines representing every major region of the world, we offer our guests more than 120 destinations in more than 20 countries. Leveraging WestJet's extensive network, flight schedule and remarkable guest experience, WestJet Vacations delivers affordable, flexible travel experiences with a variety of accommodation options for every guest. Members of our WestJet Rewards program earn WestJet dollars on flights, vacation packages and more. Our members use WestJet dollars towards the purchase of WestJet flights and vacations packages on any day, at any time, to any WestJet destination with no blackout periods - even on seat sales. For more information about everything WestJet, please visit westjet.com.

Recent recognition includes:

2014 Interbrand Canada's Best Canadian Brands (Rank #20)
2014 Brands of the Year (Strategy magazine)
2014 Canada's Most Preferred Airline (Ipsos)
2014 Value Airline of the Year (Air Transport World magazine)
2014/2013/2012 Canada's Most Attractive Employer (Randstad)
2014/2013 WestJet RBC MasterCard ranked #1 in Canada (Money Sense magazine)
2013 Highest equity score: airline, vacation package supplier brands (Harris/Decima EquiTrend Study)

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SOURCE: WestJet