WestJet pilots ask judge to nix approval of temporary foreign workers in the cockpit

The Canadian Press

· Posted: Mar 25, 2025 1:05 PM EDT | Last Updated: 5 minutes ago

The national representing WestJet pilots is asking a justice to quash national support of impermanent overseas workers successful the cockpit.

In an exertion it says was filed Monday, the Air Line Pilots Association petitioned the Federal Court to state invalid a authorities determination green-lighting impermanent enactment permits astatine WestJet Encore earlier this month.

The filing says the hose requested astir 60 permits for pilots from India and South Africa nether the impermanent overseas workers program.

Tim Perry, who heads the union's Canadian wing, says it was not consulted and that the determination could erode "safety margins" and undercut wage gains.

WestJet says it asked the authorities to measure whether impermanent overseas workers are needed, a indispensable measurement earlier hiring from overseas tin instrumentality place. It says nary person been brought connected committee truthful far.

The impermanent overseas idiosyncratic program, which allows non-permanent residents to enactment successful Canada for constricted periods, employs hundreds of thousands of radical crossed industries ranging from agriculture and operation to hospitality and wellness care.