Calgary-based WestJet is contemplating whether or not to make use of short-term international staff (TFWs) to fly its planes.
In an announcement, spokesperson Julia Kaiser instructed CBC Information the airline is exploring the labour market impression evaluation (LMIA) course of as certainly one of “a number of avenues” to satisfy a scarcity of WestJet Encore captains.
The LMIA is basically a bit of paperwork {that a} enterprise wants to participate within the federal TFW program, to show that there are not any native staff out there to take a job.
The union representing pilots on the airline says it wasn’t consulted by both the WestJet or the federal authorities concerning the transfer.
“This utility ought to by no means have been made,” mentioned Capt. Tim Perry, president of the Air Line Pilots Affiliation (ALPA) Canada.
WestJet has already acquired federal approval to rent by the TFW program, the union mentioned. Neither the airline nor Employment and Social Improvement Canada have confirmed these particulars to CBC Information.
Perry mentioned the union has no issues with everlasting immigration or with hiring newcomers, however objects to the airline’s use of the TFW program particularly.
If WestJet has an issue attracting sufficient pilots, he mentioned, it ought to work on bettering its collective settlement, relatively than trying overseas for a supply of short-term labour.
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‘Quick-circuiting’ the hiring course of
Aviation knowledgeable John Gradek mentioned there’s a pilot scarcity each in Canada and world wide. It stems from the COVID-19 pandemic when the entire trade was placed on maintain, he mentioned.
In his view, the TFW program will not be the way in which for the airline to handle its staffing points.
“WestJet is attempting to short-circuit the method of hiring Canadian pilots,” mentioned Gradek, who’s a school lecturer in aviation administration at McGill College.
“This isn’t the way in which we mainly have a look at hiring high-quality, good-paying, very demanding pilot jobs in Canada.”
To this point, WestJet says it has not but employed any staff by the TFW program.
Perry mentioned he’s additionally pissed off the union has not acquired any overtures from the federal authorities. If WestJet hopes to make use of the federal TFW program, which is meant for situations the place no home staff can be found, Perry mentioned he thinks a authorities employee ought to invite the union to weigh in about whether or not that is the case.
“In our view, our collective bargaining rights have been completely undermined on this case by the federal government,” mentioned Perry.
In response to questions from CBC Information, a spokesperson for Employment and Social Improvement Canada mentioned it could not converse to the state of affairs for privateness causes.
The spokesperson pointed to an internet database with details about employers which have acquired approval to rent short-term international staff, although it has not but been up to date with details about approvals in 2025.
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