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To: Former Sunwing Pilots
From: Captain Gilles Boissonneault, Sunwing MEC Custodian/ALPA Canada Vice President
Subject: Sunwing Custodianship
Colleagues,
As the newly appointed custodian for the former Sunwing pilots allow me to introduce myself, explain recent developments, and express my thoughts on a pathway forward.
I am an Air Canada pilot and serve as ALPA Canada Vice President. I am not a former Sunwing or WestJet pilot, so I approach this assignment as a neutral. My sole task is to work with the other custodians to resolve the remaining Sunwing-related issues in a proper and timely fashion. I did not seek out this role but was asked to do so given my steadfast belief in bettering the lives of Canadian pilots without regard to seat, equipment, type of flying performed, tail colour or any other designator typically used by managements/industry to divide rather than unite pilots.
Role of the Custodians Going Forward
Given that Sunwing’s flight operations have ceased and all active pilots have transitioned to WestJet, the role of the Sunwing custodians is now quite focused. In practical terms, the responsibilities include:
- Overseeing the administration and carriage of outstanding grievances and arbitrations relating to Sunwing pilots;
- Working with ALPA staff to identify any remaining transition issues; and
- Ensuring that Sunwing-related matters are sequenced, prioritized, and concluded in a way that protects pilots’ rights and brings finality to the wind-up of outstanding Sunwing pilot issues.
A custodian does not have a role with WestJet pilot day-to-day labour-relations matters. Those issues now belong to the WestJet MEC under your WestJet Collective Agreement.
Next Steps
To ensure that all Sunwing-related issues are properly resolved, the following steps are being taken:
- I have already had the opportunity to meet with the three other Sunwing pilot custodians to obtain a comprehensive update regarding all ongoing and unfinished business.
- Ensure we are communicating with any affected pilots. This means that if there are individual grievances, we should ensure those pilots understand the status of their dispute. If there are grievances impacting the entire pilot group, then the group should know about such issues. Stated differently, depending on the nature of certain grievances (e.g., disciplinary matters), we would not communicate to the entire group what is transpiring with a confidential and private matter.
Closing
I recognize that the past several years has been professionally, financially, and personally difficult for each pilot. The closure of Sunwing, the closure of bases, the transition to WestJet, and the disputes that have followed have placed you in an uncertain and often frustrating position.
I want you to know that I take this custodial role very seriously. In my day-to-day duties as ALPA Canada Vice President and as an Air Canada pilot, I advocate for Canadian pilots across multiple airlines, and I do so with a commitment to fairness, transparency, and professionalism. I will bring that same approach to the remaining Sunwing matters.
Fraternally,
Captain Gilles Boissonneault
Sunwing MEC Custodian
ALPA Canada Vice President
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