The company says it will consolidate call centre activity in Alberta, restructure its office and management staff and contract out operations at all but four of the 38 Canadian airports where it operates.
“These decisions, while difficult, are being thoughtfully and methodically made so that we can weather this crisis and be ready for a future where we can provide inactive WestJetters with fulfilling employment once again.”
Sims went on to say that WestJet would use the federal government’s wage subsidy to retain workers on its payroll to ensure they remain “connected to the company.” The airline rehired nearly 6,400 workers with the help of the federal government’s wage subsidy earlier this month.
“We continue to work with our employee and labour groups on ways to maintain employment through the crisis,” Sims said.
Chris Rauenbusch, president of CUPE 4070 — which represents cabin crews at WestJet and Swoop — said the union was aware the moves were on the way and had been working with the company to determine next steps.
“So by being inactive, a flight attendant remains on payroll up to 75 per cent of their wage, paid for through the company but ultimately paid for by the federal government through the [wage subsidy],” Rauenbusch said.
“They will be recalled from layoffs in accordance with seniority when the time comes.”
CALGARY — WestJet Airlines Ltd. says it will lay off 3,333 employees as part of major restructuring amid the coronavirus pandemic that has devastated the travel industry.
WestJet CEO Ed Sims says the changes are “unavoidable” as the Calgary-based company contends with “the biggest crisis in the history of aviation.”
The pandemic has seen the airline park two-thirds of its fleet after border shutdowns prompted it to suspend most of its schedule – including all international trips – in late March.
The company says a priority in selecting airport partners will be preferential hiring interviews for some of the 2,300 WestJet airport workers now facing layoffs.
WestJet, which went private after Toronto-based Onex Corp. bought the publicly traded company, had employed 14,000 workers just before the pandemic struck in March, but now has a payroll of only 4,500.