479
The deal runs from June 1, 2022 to May 31, 2032 and includes annual wage increases of approximately 2% per year across all dispatcher classifications, plus updates to benefits, scheduling, and leave entitlements.
At a glance
- Union: Canadian Airline Dispatcher Association (CALDA)
- Employer: WestJet, an Alberta Partnership
- Province: Alberta (federally regulated)
- Term: June 1, 2022 – May 31, 2032
- Top wage: $60.73/hour (Lead Dispatcher/Technical Dispatcher, Step 12, effective June 1, 2031)
- Vacation: Two to four vacation blocks per year depending on years of service
- Benefits: Company-paid extended health, dental, group life, AD&D, and short-term disability; employees pay 100% of long-term disability premiums
Wages
Flight Dispatcher – Turboprop
| Step | Active Service | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start | $21.22 | $21.64 | $22.08 | $22.52 | $22.97 | $23.43 | $23.90 | $24.38 | $24.86 | $25.36 |
| 2 | 1 year | $22.07 | $22.51 | $22.96 | $23.42 | $23.89 | $24.37 | $24.85 | $25.35 | $25.86 | $26.37 |
| 3 | 2 years | $23.25 | $23.72 | $24.19 | $24.68 | $25.17 | $25.67 | $26.19 | $26.71 | $27.25 | $27.79 |
| 4 | 3 years | $24.51 | $25.00 | $25.50 | $26.01 | $26.53 | $27.06 | $27.61 | $28.16 | $28.72 | $29.30 |
| 5 | 4 years | $25.83 | $26.35 | $26.88 | $27.41 | $27.96 | $28.52 | $29.09 | $29.67 | $30.27 | $30.87 |
Flight Dispatcher – Turbojet
| Step | Active Service | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start | $23.60 | $24.07 | $24.55 | $25.05 | $25.55 | $26.06 | $26.58 | $27.11 | $27.65 | $28.21 |
| 2 | 1 year | $24.99 | $25.49 | $26.00 | $26.52 | $27.05 | $27.59 | $28.14 | $28.71 | $29.28 | $29.87 |
| 3 | 2 years | $26.45 | $26.98 | $27.52 | $28.07 | $28.63 | $29.20 | $29.79 | $30.38 | $30.99 | $31.61 |
| 4 | 3 years | $28.58 | $29.15 | $29.73 | $30.33 | $30.93 | $31.55 | $32.18 | $32.83 | $33.48 | $34.15 |
| 5 | 4 years | $29.65 | $30.24 | $30.85 | $31.46 | $32.09 | $32.74 | $33.39 | $34.06 | $34.74 | $35.43 |
Lead Flight Dispatcher
| Step | Active Service | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start | $25.96 | $26.48 | $27.01 | $27.55 | $28.10 | $28.66 | $29.23 | $29.82 | $30.42 | $31.02 |
| 2 | 1 year | $27.49 | $28.04 | $28.60 | $29.17 | $29.75 | $30.35 | $30.96 | $31.58 | $32.21 | $32.85 |
| 3 | 2 years | $29.10 | $29.68 | $30.28 | $30.88 | $31.50 | $32.13 | $32.77 | $33.43 | $34.10 | $34.78 |
| 4 | 3 years | $30.80 | $31.42 | $32.05 | $32.69 | $33.34 | $34.01 | $34.69 | $35.38 | $36.09 | $36.81 |
| 5 | 4 years | $32.61 | $33.26 | $33.93 | $34.61 | $35.30 | $36.00 | $36.72 | $37.46 | $38.21 | $38.97 |
| 6 | 5 years | $34.53 | $35.22 | $35.92 | $36.64 | $37.37 | $38.12 | $38.88 | $39.66 | $40.45 | $41.26 |
| 7 | 6 years | $36.55 | $37.28 | $38.02 | $38.78 | $39.56 | $40.35 | $41.16 | $41.98 | $42.82 | $43.68 |
| 8 | 7 years | $38.70 | $39.47 | $40.26 | $41.07 | $41.89 | $42.73 | $43.58 | $44.45 | $45.34 | $46.25 |
| 9 | 8 years | $40.96 | $41.78 | $42.62 | $43.47 | $44.34 | $45.23 | $46.13 | $47.05 | $47.99 | $48.95 |
| 10 | 9 years | $43.37 | $44.24 | $45.12 | $46.03 | $46.95 | $47.88 | $48.84 | $49.82 | $50.82 | $51.83 |
| 11 | 10 years | $45.91 | $46.83 | $47.76 | $48.72 | $49.69 | $50.69 | $51.70 | $52.74 | $53.79 | $54.87 |
| 12 | 11 years | $48.60 | $49.58 | $50.57 | $51.58 | $52.61 | $53.66 | $54.73 | $55.83 | $56.95 | $58.09 |
Lead Dispatcher and Technical Dispatcher
| Step | Active Service | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 | 2031 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start | $27.14 | $27.69 | $28.24 | $28.80 | $29.38 | $29.97 | $30.57 | $31.18 | $31.80 | $32.44 |
| 2 | 1 year | $28.74 | $29.32 | $29.90 | $30.50 | $31.11 | $31.74 | $32.37 | $33.02 | $33.68 | $34.35 |
| 3 | 2 years | $30.42 | $31.02 | $31.65 | $32.28 | $32.92 | $33.58 | $34.25 | $34.94 | $35.64 | $36.35 |
| 4 | 3 years | $32.20 | $32.85 | $33.50 | $34.17 | $34.86 | $35.55 | $36.26 | $36.99 | $37.73 | $38.48 |
| 5 | 4 years | $34.10 | $34.78 | $35.48 | $36.19 | $36.91 | $37.65 | $38.40 | $39.17 | $39.95 | $40.75 |
| 6 | 5 years | $36.10 | $36.82 | $37.56 | $38.31 | $39.07 | $39.85 | $40.65 | $41.47 | $42.29 | $43.14 |
| 7 | 6 years | $38.21 | $38.97 | $39.75 | $40.55 | $41.36 | $42.19 | $43.03 | $43.89 | $44.77 | $45.66 |
| 8 | 7 years | $40.45 | $41.26 | $42.09 | $42.93 | $43.79 | $44.66 | $45.56 | $46.47 | $47.40 | $48.35 |
| 9 | 8 years | $42.83 | $43.69 | $44.56 | $45.45 | $46.36 | $47.29 | $48.23 | $49.20 | $50.18 | $51.19 |
| 10 | 9 years | $45.34 | $46.25 | $47.17 | $48.11 | $49.08 | $50.06 | $51.06 | $52.08 | $53.12 | $54.18 |
| 11 | 10 years | $48.00 | $48.96 | $49.94 | $50.94 | $51.96 | $53.00 | $54.06 | $55.14 | $56.24 | $57.37 |
| 12 | 11 years | $50.82 | $51.83 | $52.87 | $53.93 | $55.01 | $56.11 | $57.23 | $58.37 | $59.54 | $60.73 |
Pay premiums
- Project Dispatcher role: 5% premium on applicable hourly rate
- On-the-job or in-class training: 10% shift premium
- Approved Check Dispatcher performing competency checks: $100 per qualifying shift
Benefits
- Extended health, dental, and out-of-country/out-of-province emergency travel medical coverage provided
- Group life insurance (1x) and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage provided
- Short-term disability (taxable option) company-paid; long-term disability premiums paid 100% by the employee
- Critical illness coverage available
- Health spending account and personal spending account included
- Benefits coverage begins following completion of a three-month waiting period
- Mandatory coverage includes out-of-country travel medical, group life, AD&D, short-term disability, and long-term disability
- Company retains the right to change insurance vendors provided coverage is equal to or better than at ratification
Hours, overtime & scheduling
Standard scheduling (Flight Dispatcher and Lead Flight Dispatcher)
- Six bi-monthly averaging/scheduling periods per year; full-time scheduled hours target is 2,040 annually, paid to 2,080 hours
- Scheduled shifts must be no less than eight hours and no more than 12 hours
- No shift start times permitted between 0000 and 0359
- Minimum two consecutive days on or off duty; maximum five consecutive days in one rotation; maximum 50 hours per rotation
- Minimum 47 hours free from duty between rotations; minimum 59 hours between a rotation ending after midnight and one beginning before 0900 local time
- Minimum 11 hours rest between consecutive shifts (10 hours when followed by a training requirement shift)
- No scheduled split shifts permitted
Technical Dispatcher and Lead Dispatcher
- Modified work schedules of 40 hours per week, with daily hours of up to 12 hours
Overtime
- Overtime eligible hours are those worked in excess of total scheduled hours for the averaging period
- January/February period overtime threshold: 337 hours (342 in a leap year)
- Overtime paid at 1.5x the regular rate
- Employees may bank overtime at a rate of 1.5 hours per overtime hour worked, to a maximum bank of 96 hours; banked time may be taken as time off or paid out at the regular rate
Other scheduling provisions
- Schedule bidding uses a 1,000-point system per scheduling period
- Shift trades permitted between equally qualified personnel with equal hours; must be approved within five calendar days
- Open time (unfilled shifts) offered first to those with lowest open time hours in the applicable period
- Drafting as a last resort: employees may be drafted in reverse seniority order, limited to three times per calendar year; employees on GDO, SDO, or vacation cannot be drafted
Leaves & time off
Vacation entitlement — Flight Dispatcher and Lead Flight Dispatcher
| Years of Service | Vacation Blocks Per Year |
|---|---|
| Years 1–3 | 2 blocks (each block = 7 calendar days / 40 hours) |
| Years 4–6 | 3 blocks |
| Year 7 and beyond | 4 blocks |
Note: Statutory holidays are allocated as an additional two vacation blocks and eight hours annually for Flight Dispatchers and Lead Flight Dispatchers.
Vacation entitlement — Technical Dispatcher and Lead Dispatcher
| Years of Service | Weeks Per Year |
|---|---|
| Years 1–3 | 2 weeks |
| Years 4–6 | 3 weeks |
| Year 7 and beyond | 4 weeks |
Paid statutory holidays
| Holiday |
|---|
| The 10 general holidays defined under the Canada Labour Code |
| Civic Holiday (replaced if an additional federal holiday is proclaimed) |
Total: 11 statutory holidays credited at 8 hours each (88 hours annually)
Other leaves
- Sick leave: 10 paid days per calendar year (prorated for new hires; minimum 3 days); non-cumulative; medical certificate required after five or more consecutive absent workdays
- Personal leave: 3 paid days and 2 unpaid days per calendar year for qualifying personal reasons under the Canada Labour Code
- Maternity and/or parental leave: as provided under the Canada Labour Code; benefits and travel privileges maintained during leave
- Compassionate care leave: unpaid, as provided under the Canada Labour Code; benefits and travel privileges maintained
- Bereavement leave: up to 5 paid days plus 5 unpaid days for spouse, common-law partner, child, or parent/parent-in-law; up to 3 paid days plus 7 unpaid days for grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or permanent household relative
- Jury duty: pay protected at straight-time rates for scheduled shifts missed
- Court appearance leave: paid if related to duties as a dispatcher; unpaid if unrelated
- Reservist leave: as provided under the Canada Labour Code
- Unpaid leave of absence: available upon completion of probation, up to three months with possible three-month extension, subject to operational approval
- Special days off: up to four consecutive unpaid days once per calendar year for monumental non-recurring events (e.g., weddings); 60 days’ advance notice required
Other highlights
Job security, layoff & recall
- Layoffs proceed in reverse seniority order within the affected position; association receives 45 days’ notice
- Prior to layoffs, employer must first pursue personal leaves of absence and voluntary layoffs
- Affected employees may bump the most junior employee on the seniority list; bumping into Lead Dispatcher, Lead Flight Dispatcher, or Technical Dispatcher requires active service in that role within the prior 24 months
- Recall eligibility period is 60 months from date of layoff; employees have three calendar days to respond to a recall notice
- Severance: employees with at least 24 months of service terminated due to staff reductions are entitled to one of two severance options — either one day’s pay per completed year of service (maximum 90 days) or a combination of a lesser pay amount plus one year of standby travel benefits for each completed year of service
- Workplace relocation: if the dispatch office relocates more than 100 kilometres, one year’s notice is required and relocation assistance of up to $40,000 (plus up to $12,500 for land transfer tax) is available for qualifying employees
Grievance & arbitration
- Three-step grievance procedure: informal discussion, Level 1 (Senior Manager, Flight Dispatch and Load Control), Level 2 (Vice-President, Operations); unresolved grievances proceed to arbitration
- Grievances must be filed within 15 calendar days of the event giving rise to the dispute
- Single arbitrator selected by rotation from an agreed list; arbitration costs shared equally; arbitrator has no jurisdiction to alter the terms of the agreement
- Grievances not submitted to arbitration within prescribed timelines are deemed abandoned
Health & safety
- Joint Health and Safety Policy Committee and Workplace Health and Safety Committee established under Part II of the Canada Labour Code, each including one CALDA-appointed dispatcher representative
- Workload Committee of two CALDA-appointed members meets at least quarterly with management to review operational control functions, shift coverage, and workload distribution
- Employees involved in aviation accidents are relieved from duty as soon as possible and have the right to contact an association representative before participating in any investigation interview
- CALDA’s Critical Incident Response Team may be deployed following aviation accidents as defined by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada
Non-discrimination
- Agreement prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family status, genetic characteristics, disability, and pardoned offences, in accordance with the Canadian Human Rights Act
- Both parties commit to maintaining a respectful workplace free from intimidation, coercion, and interference related to association participation
Source document
WestJet–CALDA Collective Agreement, June 1, 2022 – May 31, 2032 (PDF)
Tags
- NAICS Code: 481 (Air Transportation)
- Union: Canadian Airline Dispatcher Association (CALDA)
- Employer: WestJet
- Province: Alberta (federally regulated)
