A group of more than 100 WestJet staffers are taking legal action against their airline and the Canadian government for the mandatory vaccine policies forced on industry workers. ."Collaborating with airlines and other corporate stakeholders, the federal government implemented punitive and divisive COVID vaccination mandates, creating a two-tier society stoked by fear, division, and anger," said the group in a statement. ."Our objection lies in the coercion, discipline, and denial of informed consent used to achieve the government's goals of mass vaccination. Achieving informed consent under such a heinous act of forced compliance is not only unethical and unconstitutional, it is un-Canadian.".The group is working with civil liberties lawyer Leighton Grey, of Grey Wowk Spencer LLP, and said it chose Grey due to his office supporting "similar lawsuits filed against other large corporations and the government" and said those cases have "shown promising results" so far. ."We've, so far, sent a cease-and-desist letter advising WestJet of our clients' intent to sue," said Grey indicating he and his clients have drafted the lawsuit. ."We may be experiencing somewhat of a reprieve right now, but we know what's coming this fall. The federal government has made it clear we will be heading into a nine-month rotation of forced vaccination." ."I'm telling my clients, if you go back to work now, it's basically a prelude to a kiss.".Grey said many of his other clients — those who were put on leave without pay with CNRL, CP and others — regret their decision to return to work saying they are still feeling discriminated against and are not feeling socially or emotionally connected to their workplaces anymore. .Citing the Criminal Code of Canada, he also said employers have a responsibility to protect workers and "take reasonable steps to prevent bodily harm to that person" and said a "forced injection program constitutes an assault." ."Our goals are to seek relief for WestJet employees and set the record straight to ensure these mandates never return, benefitting all Canadians," WestJet employee and group organizer Jeff Roberts told the Western Standard. .Roberts said although the group has reached 112 "active and inactive" employees as of Tuesday, more are joining daily. ."Many of us have individual variances in our stories. Some are on unpaid leave, some suffer from vaccine injury, some were forced into early retirement, and some were terminated," said the group, adding, "Although impacted individually, we all suffer equally.".Pointing to the emergence of new evidence becoming available, the group argues that "a considerable amount of scientific information needed to establish informed consent was never communicated to the public" making it "indisputable that the fundamental hallmarks of informed consent were never achieved.".The group said, although the vaccine mandates were initiated by the federal government, it is naming WestJet in the lawsuit because it believes the airline had a "role and responsibility to protect its employees from such egregious assaults on rights and freedoms in the workplace." ."Instead of pushing back against the government, Westjet embraced and marketed the narrative, resulting in the aggressive enforcement of an unlawful and unconstitutional demand," said the group. ."Following orders have not, nor ever will be, an excuse to violate a person's rights and freedom.".Organizers said they are working to reach more WestJet employees regardless of employment status, who have been affected by the mandates, to build on the lawsuit. ."If you are a Westjet employee, union or non-union, pressured into a medical procedure under duress to keep your job, placed on unpaid leave, forced into early retirement or terminated, you have a place at the table and deserve justice," said the group. ."A significant crime has occurred against you and others. Bold action is required to regain our rights and freedoms — fear is a trap that serves no purpose other than guaranteeing your compliance.".Former or current employees looking to join the lawsuit can connect with the group by emailing causeforaction@protonmail.com. .The group has also started a GiveSendGo fundraiser for those interested in financially supporting its action against WestJet and the Canadian government.
