Follows successful drive at WestJet, Encore
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) on May 24 filed to represent 170 flight attendants at Swoop, WestJet’s low-fare airline.
“Swoop flight attendants have been calling out for transparent and fair work rules since day one and CUPE is excited to answer the call,” said Mark Hancock, CUPE national president. “Swoop flight attendants work hard and deserve a fair contract and that’s exactly what we’re going to help them achieve.”
A majority of cabin crew members at Swoop signed cards to join CUPE and an application has been made to the Canada Industrial Relations Board to certify CUPE as their union representation, said the union.
The move follows CUPE’s successful unionization of flight attendants at WestJet’s mainline carrier in July 2018 and at WestJet’s Encore carrier earlier this month. Together with Swoop, CUPE represents about 4,000 flight attendants across WestJet’s three carriers and 15,000 flight attendants nationwide.
