Article content

A major international union has taken the first step towards unionizing pilots at WestJet Airlines Ltd., taking over the work begun internally last year.

In a letter sent to WestJet pilots on Wednesday, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) asked them to confirm their support for the union by signing a membership card and paying a $5 fee, the first step towards a unionization drive.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or ALPA takes first steps to unionize WestJet pilots but warns of 'fear-mongering' tactics by management Back to video

ALPA is the largest pilot union in the world and represents workers at major carriers such as Delta Air Lines Inc. and United Air Lines Inc., as well as Canadian carriers Jazz Aviation LP and Air Transat.

The WestJet Professional Pilots Association (WJPA) began talking to ALPA about taking over its independent unionization drive in late 2015, citing a lack of financial resources. This followed a vote in which 55 per cent of WestJet’s pilots said no to unionization.

“We want to thank the WJPA members for their efforts to represent the voices of WestJet pilots, but we all realize the time has come to secure real, professional, and truly independent representation under the Canada Labour Code,” says the letter from the WestJet ALPA Organizing Committee.