WestJet laying off 6,900 workers amid worsening COVID-19 crisis

WestJet says 6,900 of a workers are being laid off amid a thespian downturn in business since of COVID-19.

The Calgary-based airline pronounced Tuesday that 90 per cent of those employees are withdrawal voluntarily.

The series of people who mislaid their jobs represents about half of a company’s workforce, WestJet pronounced in a release.

“The fact that we avoided a potentially worse outcome is covenant to a suggestion and unselfish opinion demonstrated by a people, who have enabled WestJet to continue handling with a common remaining workforce of 7,100,” pronounced WestJet boss and CEO Ed Sims.

“This is harmful news for all WestJetters.”

The executive group has taken a 50 per cent compensate cut while vice-presidents and directors took a 25 per cent cut.

The airline also said it has paused some-more than 75 per cent of a collateral projects and asking suppliers for a rebate or check in payments.

Last week, a airline asked employees via a classification to opt for one of several options, including delinquent leave of absence, early retirement, intentional resignation, reduced work week or reduced pay.

In a summary to a members Tuesday, CUPE, a kinship representing WestJet cabin crew, pronounced 1,982 of a members comparison a intentional option, so for a month of Apr during least, there were 298 contingent layoffs among CUPE members.

“The kinship will continue to concentration on operative alongside a association to equivocate offer layoffs to each grade possible. We will also concentration a efforts on ensuring a satisfactory and pure remember routine with a idea of returning all of a members to a line as shortly as possible,” said CUPE’s message.

On Monday, WestJet pronounced it was shortening a series of flights it offers within Canada by about half since a COVID-19 pestilence has reduced a direct for atmosphere travel.

But a airline said it is nonetheless committed to “keeping vicious mercantile lifelines open for a 38 communities we offer opposite Canada.”

Meantime, a airline is boosting a attempts to get Canadians who are stranded abroad during a maturation health predicament home. 

From Monday to Wednesday, a airline said it will “operate 34 repatriation flights to general and transborder destinations to safeguard a protected lapse of WestJet guest and Canadians who sojourn abroad.”

Air Canada layoffs

Up to 600 Air Canada pilots will also go on delinquent leave in a entrance months due to a fallout from a virus, their kinship pronounced Tuesday.

Capt. Michael McKay, conduct of a Air Canada Pilots Association, pronounced a kinship concluded to a devise late Monday for a limit of 600 pilots on furlough.

The pilots have also concluded to reduced compensate opposite a house and “simplified agreement language” to concede them to retire earlier, he said.

“Like all Canadians, a some-more than 4,400 pilots of Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge have been deeply influenced by a impact of a COVID-19 pandemic, privately and professionally, with a steep dump in newcomer direct and a severe handling environment,” McKay said.

He is fasten other unions in job on Ottawa for financial service for a aviation industry.

Due to a complexity of commander training, a accurate series of positions immediately influenced during a country’s largest airline stays unclear, he said.

On Thursday, a kinship representing Air Canada’s moody attendants pronounced a association will temporarily lay off some-more than 5,100 members.

Article source: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/westjet-airline-layoffs-jobs-cut-covid-calgary-1.5508439?cmp=rss