WestJet MEC PIREP Podcast

Episode 48 - Episode 48 - Survey Results, Q&A, LEC 230

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 09:00:00 -0600

The WestJet MEC share the Family Awareness Newsletter and highlights results from the first flight deck survey. The episode closes with an interview of newly elected Calgary LEC 230 reps Doug McFadyen and Mason Bowden.

Overview:
00:00 Intro
00:23 Family Awareness Events
01:02 Flight Deck Survey Results
08:38 Member Q&A
17:15 Meet the New LEC 230 Reps
23:42 Closing Remarks

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Episode 47 - Contract Comparison

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0600

Introducing First Officer JD Sutherland, Interim Chair of the Negotiations Committee. The episode introduces a 125-page contract comparison document summarizing 10 collective agreements (WestJet plus nine North American peers) as an educational tool as WestJet Pilots ramp up for contract negotiations.

00:00 Introductions
00:28 MEC Changes
02:46 Current Work and Priorities
03:20 Contract Comparison Guide
04:31 How to Read It
05:03 Stay Engaged Next Steps
05:46 Joining the Committee
08:24 Wrap Up

More from WestJet Pilots:
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Episode 46 - MEC Update & Scheduling Matters

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:00:00 -0700

This MEC update covers, upcoming meeting with company leadership, Health & Safety committee restart, Cuba service changes and crew expense guidance, CAAT pension and Narita hotel updates, and ongoing arbitrations.
Following the MEC update, this episode features an interview with Scheduling Chair John Jaenicke on “Scheduling Matters” and priorities for CA3.

More from WestJet Pilots:
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WestJetPilots
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Episode 45 - MEC & Grievance Update

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 11:00:00 -0700

In this update from the WestJet MEC, we have a brief update on Association business such as recent changes to aircraft configurations and updates on hotel issues, OHS Committee Updates, Negots Committee Updates and more.

This update also spotlights the Grievance Committee in a one-on-one interview with Captain Jeff Roberts, Grievance Chair.

Get Involved:

Volunteer Portal: https://wja.alpa.org/members-home/volunteer-form
DART Q&A Channel: https://dart.alpa.org (YouTube Q&A section)
Submit your questions for future episodes!

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Episode 44 - Meet The New Leadership

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 14:00:00 -0700

In this episode, meet your newly elected leadership team as they introduce themselves and share their vision for the future. Captain Jacob Astin (Chair), First Officer Barret Armann (Vice Chair), and First Officer Vignesh Sridhar (Secretary Treasurer) discuss the first week in office, committee updates, volunteer opportunities, and upcoming initiatives including a pilot survey and new Q&A channel.

Featured in this episode:

Introductions from the new MEC leadership team
Updates on committee engagement and professionalism
Volunteer opportunities and how to get involved
New DART Q&A channel for member questions
Upcoming pilot survey to gather feedback from the membership
Looking ahead to bargaining preparations

Episode 43 - MEC Summer Update

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 13:00:00 -0600

Captain Desmond Jordan sits down with MEC Chair Captain Bernie Lewall to get an update of the past few months in the MEC. Joining the conversation is our new SPSC Chair Captain Russ Martin.

Episode 42 - Grievance Update

Fri, 23 May 2025 06:00:00 -0600

Captain Desmond Jordan sits down with MEC Chair Captain Bernie Lewall and Grievance Chair Captain Jeff Roberts to give an update on the work of the Grievance Committee.

Episode 41 - Are You In The Green?

Mon, 12 May 2025 09:00:00 -0600

Captain John Potter Chair of the WJAMEC Pilot Assistance sits down for a second discussion with Psychologist Doug McKibbon (M.Ed., R.Psych., CEAP) about Pilot mental health and ALPA's Are You in the Green? The question is a reference to the IMSAFE checklist, a self-assessment tool for pilots to determine physical and mental wellness in preparation for each flight.

Episode 40 - MEC Update

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 11:00:00 -0600

Captain Desmond Jordan sits down with MEC Chair Captain Bernie Lewall and Captain Gerry Erlam WJAMEC Training & Pilot Standards Chair to discuss hot topics facing the pilot group.

Episode 39 - Pilot Mental Health

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 08:00:00 -0700

Captain John Potter Chair of the WJAMEC Pilot Assistance sits down in discussion Psychologist Doug McKibbon (M.Ed., R.Psych., CEAP) about Pilot mental health and suicide prevention.

Episode 38 - 2024 Year End

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 15:00:00 -0700

P2P Chair Captain Desmond Jordan sits down with MEC Chair Captain Bernie Lewall and MEC Vice Chair Captain Chris Tholl to discuss hot topics facing the WestJet Pilot group. The discussion includes insight into the recent arbitrated award with Sunwing Unifor, the decision around not pursuing reconsideration, and looking forward to 2025.

Episode 37 - Update from MEC Chair on Merger Arbitration

Sun, 03 Nov 2024 12:00:00 -0700

Captain Desmond Jordan sits down with MEC Chair Captain Bernie Lewall to discuss the recent merger arbitration and the path forward.

Episode 36 - Grievance

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 06:00:00 -0600

Captain Desmond Jordan sits down with Grievance Chair Captain Joe Cota and Labour Relations Council Joel Hodorek.

Episode 35 - CIRB Merger Ruling

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 23:00:00 -0600

MEC Vice Chair Captain Chris Tholl sits down with WJAMEC Merger Committee Chair Captain Francis Hane to explainthe July 30th CIRB ruling on the WestJet/Sunwing Merger.

Episode 34 - CAAT Pension 2

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0600

Captain Desmond Jordan continues his conversations with SME WestJet Pilots First Officer Clayton Gossen, First Officer Daniel Bernier, and CAAT CEO Derek Dobson to dive deeper into the new WestJet Pilots pension plan.

Episode 33 - MEC Summer Update

Sun, 07 Jul 2024 19:00:00 -0600

WJA MEC Chair Captain Bernie Lewall and MEC Vice Chair Captain Chris Tholl sit down with newly elected MEC Secretary-Treasurer First Officer Vignesh Sridhar to discuss a wide range of topics facing the MEC.

Episode 32 - CAAT Pension

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0600

Captain Desmond Jordan meets with SME WestJet Pilots Clayton Gossen, Daniel Bernier and CAAT CEO Derek Dobson to discuss the new WestJet Pilots pension plan.

CAAT Pension Calculator Link: https://www.caatpension.ca/pension-solutions/dbplus-value-tool

Episode 31 - Professional Standards Committee

Sun, 05 May 2024 17:00:00 -0600

Captain Desmond Jordan sits down with Professional Standards Chair Captain Alan Marshall and committee member Captain Kristin Long to provide more information about the Professional Standards Committee.
Episode overview:

Intro
Example of ProStans
History
How It's Going
ProStans Training
Members
Code of Ethics
ProStans Process
What Prostans Is Not
Command Course
Contact ProStans

Episode 30 - MEC Update

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 13:00:00 -0600

MEC Chair Captain Bernie Lewall and Vice Chair Captain Chris Tholl sit down to give an update from the WJA MEC meeting in Winnipeg about the following topics:

Canada Board Meeting
Non-Passenger Screening
Flight time / duty time
Volunteering
Pension
Sunwing Merger
Grievances
WestJet Encore Tentative Agreement
WestJet Tech Ops AMFA Negotiations
PAL Negotiations
Air Canada Negotiations

Interested in volunteering with your association? Apply here: https://www.alpa.org/wja/members-home/volunteer-form

Episode 29 - Scheduling Update

Sat, 17 Feb 2024 11:00:00 -0700

Scheduling Committee Chair John Jaenicke talks with P2P Chair Desmond Jordan to give updates about pilot scheduling, and some information about sections 8, 9, and 10 of the Collective Agreement.

Episode 28 - Merger Update

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 15:00:00 -0700

Merger Committee Chair Francis Hane sits down with host Desmond Jordan to give us an update on the merger with Sunwing.

Episode 27 - The Year in Review

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 14:00:00 -0700

Captain Desmond Jordan sits down with the WJA MEC Executive to discuss 2023 and what's ahead for 2024

Episode 26 - MEC Update

Sat, 18 Nov 2023 13:00:00 -0700

MEC Chair Captain Bernie Lewall and Vice Chair Captain Chris Tholl sit down to discuss a wide range of current topics facing the WestJet Pilot Group.

Episode 25 - Merger Committee Chair Francis Hane

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 11:00:00 -0600

Host Captain Desmond Jordon discusses the upcoming Sunwing merger with Merger Chair Captain Francis Hane.

Episode 24 - Summer Update

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 18:00:00 -0600

MEC Chair Captain Bernie Lewall and Vice Chair Captain Chris Tholl discuss recent events and what to expect in the coming months.

Episode 23 - Implementation Update from the MEC

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 20:00:00 -0600

Update from the Captain Bernie Lewall and Captain Chris Tholl on the ratification of CA2, upcoming vacancy and Swoop integration bids as well as MEC elections.

Episode 22 - A Conversation with the Negotiation Committee

Wed, 31 May 2023 15:00:00 -0600

Captain Desmond Jordan sits down for a conversation with the WJA ALPA Negotiation Committee. Captain Andrew Hamber, First Officer Tracy Law and First Officer Joel Lautenschlager share their thoughts on our recent TA and the negotiation process.

Episode 21 -MEC Update as Voting For CA 2 Opens

Tue, 30 May 2023 14:00:00 -0600

Captains Bernie Lewall and Chris Tholl join Captain Desmond Jordan to answer some questions and discuss our recent Tentative Agreement with WestJet.

Episode 20 - CA 2 Roadshow Vancouver BC May 28th 2023

Mon, 29 May 2023 20:00:00 -0600

Roadshow in Vancouver by the WestJet ALPA MEC in support of our Tentative Agreement. Hear from our Negotiations and Legal team as they walk us through the details of CA 2

Episode 19 - An Agreement in Principle

Fri, 19 May 2023 03:00:00 -0600

Captain Chris Tholl and Captain Bernie Lewall discuss the signing of an Agreement in Principle with the WestJet Group of Companies.

Episode 18 - Less than 16 hours to go. Update from Captain Chris Tholl

Thu, 18 May 2023 13:00:00 -0600

With less than 16 hours to go before the Strike or Lockout deadline, Captain Chris Tholl is joined by Captain Tom Lindstrom and Captain Rob Simms to give us an update on Negotiations and plans for picketing in Toronto

Episode 17 - Update from Captain Tholl

Wed, 17 May 2023 23:00:00 -0600

28 hours out from a strike deadline Captain Chris Tholl gives an update from the negotiations in Toronto.

Episode 16 - 72 Hour Strike Notice

Mon, 15 May 2023 20:00:00 -0600

MEC Chair Captian Bernie Lewall and MEC Vice Chair Captain Chris Tholl discuss the filing of 72 hour strike notice.

Episode 15 - From The Negotiating Table

Sat, 13 May 2023 16:00:00 -0600

MEC Vice Chair Chris Tholl and MEC Chair Bernard Lewall take a moment from the negotiating table to talk about the recent May 8th picket by WestJet pilots, and of course to give an update about the negotiations taking place in Toronto.

Episode 14 - MEC Meeting

Sun, 07 May 2023 15:00:00 -0600

Following the Master Executive Council meeting last week in Calgary, P2P Chair Desmond Jordan talks with MEC Chair Bernard Lewall, MEC Vice Chair Chris Tholl, and Strike Chair Christina Thomson.

Topics of discussion include the meeting itself, the potential of labour action, how pilots can get more information, and a few questions get some answers.

Episode 13 - Strike Vote

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 13:00:00 -0600

The latest WestJet PIREP Podcast features P2P Chair Desmond Jordan, MEC Chair Bernard Lewall, MEC Vice Chair Chris Tholl, and Strike Committee Chair Christina Thomson.

The primary topic of discussion is the announcement of the strike authorization results. WestJet and Swoop pilots sent a strong message to management with an overwhelming vote of support for lawful job action should a negotiated settlement not be reached by May 16.

Episode 12 - ALPA National

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 06:00:00 -0600

P2P Chair Desmond Jordan and SPSC Chair Christina Thomson are joined by Alaska Airlines Captain Ronan O'Donoghue ALPA SPSC Chair and Alaska Airlines Captain David Campbell SPSC Communications Specialist to discuss recent strategy meetings with ALPA National, how WestJet pilots can show unity, and how to get the contract that WestJet pilots deserve.

Episode 11 - The Strike Vote

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0600

Featuring SPSC Chair Christina Thomson, MEC Chair Bernie Lewall, and MEC Vice Chair Chris Tholl.

This episode includes topics such as:

Bernie's recent visits with Government officials in Ottawa
The recent informational picket by WestJet pilots
Negotiations Update
Why the WestJet MEC is holding a strike vote, and why the association needs a strong YES mandate from the pilots.

Episode 10 - Negotiations Update

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 12:00:00 -0600

P2P Committee Chair Desmond Jordan, MEC Chair Bernie Lewall, and Negotiating Committee Chair Andrew Hamber take to the air and give an update on the current status of negotiations, and answer a few common questions from the line.

Episode 9 - The Power Of Picketing

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 22:00:00 -0600

SPSC Chair Christina Thomson, MEC Chair Bernie Lewall, and MEC Vice Chair Chris Tholl sit down to discuss various topics such as:

Bernie's state of the union negotiations update
WestJet's CEO's comments during the recent WestJet Live
Differences between Canadian and North American pilot agreements
Details about the upcoming informational picket
Other upcoming family and unity events

Episode 8 - A Word From Legal

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 16:00:00 -0600

P2P Chair Desmond Jordan and MEC Chair Bernie Lewall sit down with ALPA Labour Relations Council Joel Hodorek, to answer some of the pressing legal questions about the current state of negotiations.

Got a question that you want answered in an upcoming podcast? Send a DART and choose "Strategic Preparedness (SPSC)".

Episode 7 - Conciliation

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 17:00:00 -0700

P2P Chair Desmond Jordan talks with MEC Chair Bernie Lewall, SPSC Chair Christina Thomson, and Government Affairs Chair Ryan Leier about the recent filing by the WestJet MEC for conciliation and what it means for the negotiation process.

Episode 6 - LEC 230 Chair Sam Brennan

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 21:00:00 -0600

Communications Member Adam Priest talks with LEC 230 Chair Sam Brennan about the latest LEC 230 news and upcoming local elections.

Episode 5 - Professional Standards Committee

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 06:00:00 -0600

Communications Member Adam Priest talks with Professional Standards Committee Chair Allan Marshall about the role of the Professional Standards Committee.

Episode 4 - Preferential Standing Bid

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 10:00:00 -0600

Communications Chair Todd Sinclair talks with PSB Association Representative and Communications Member Adam Priest to learn more about how the Preferential Standing Bid works.

Episode 3 - Meet The Chair

Sat, 17 Jul 2021 20:00:00 -0600

Communications Member Adam Priest sits down with recently elected MEC Chair Dave Kingston to talk about his first two weeks in office and his vision for the future of the Association.

Episode 2 - LOU 8

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 11:00:00 -0600

Giovanni Martorella from the Communications Committee and John Jaenicke from the Scheduling Committee discuss the recently announced LOU 8 and what it means for WestJet Pilots.

Episode 1 - Pilot

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 17:00:00 -0600

Acting MEC Chair Mark Jurkowski and MEC Secretary-Treasurer Mike Taylor introduce the podcast and catch the membership up on the events of the last few months.

WestJet Pilot Podcast Trailer

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 11:00:00 -0600

Introducing the WestJet Pilot Podcast. We are working to bring you regular podcasts from your Association. Subscribe so you don't miss future updates.

If you have questions or feedback, email us at wjacommunications@alpa.org