CUPE Local 4070, known as WestJet Component, represents cabin crew members at WestJet, WestJet Encore, and Sunwing Airlines. Local 4070 is one of more than 700 locals chartered by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the largest union in Canada with over 750,000 members across public services and beyond.

A local serving cabin crew across three airlines has operational realities that generic membership software cannot accommodate: rolling rosters, bargaining cycles, and time-critical communications during job actions. Local 4070 needed software that reflected the way union operations actually run, not a CRM repurposed for membership.

To get there, Local 4070 turned to eMembership for a dedicated, union-specific platform purpose-built to support the full range of operational needs at a modern local.

A generic CRM asked to do union work

Before adopting eMembership, Local 4070 ran on an outdated CRM system that was never built for the realities of union operations. Day-to-day administrative work depended on manual processes, and members had no self-service path for routine requests.

• Generic CRM, not union software. The existing system lacked functionality for the workflows union operations actually require.
• Manual administrative work. Managing membership data, employer records, and communications consumed staff time that should have gone to advocacy.
• No member portal. Members had no self-service path to update their information, check on grievances, or access union resources.
• Slow communication during critical moments. Reaching members quickly during bargaining or job actions depended on cobbled-together email lists.

Local 4070 needed a platform purpose-built for union operations: one that handled members, employers, contracts, and communications in one system, with self-service for members and real-time outreach during critical events.

A platform built for how union operations actually run

eMembership delivered a dedicated, union-specific platform configured to Local 4070's needs. Member data, employer tracking, self-service, and real-time communications now run on one connected system.

Member management built for the work

Detailed member profiles, including employment history, certifications, and union statuses, live in a centralized real-time database. Scattered records and manual updates were replaced with one source of truth that stays accurate.

Employer relationships in one view

The employer management module tracks employer relationships, contract terms, and assignments. Grievances, compliance requirements, and workforce allocations all sit in the same integrated system rather than scattered across systems and inboxes.

Self-service for members

The member portal lets members log in, check on grievances, update personal information, and access union resources, all from one place. Administrative tasks that previously consumed staff hours now happen on the member's schedule.

Real-time mobile outreach

The mobile app supports push notifications, which proved essential during bargaining and other time-critical moments. As Calvin Gautschi, Recording Secretary, put it: "Whether it's updates, strike notices, or urgent communications, eMembership ensures real-time access to vital information, an absolute necessity in today's fast-paced world."

A platform that grows with Local 4070

Beyond core member and employer management, Local 4070 uses a range of integrated tools within eMembership:

• Union grievances tracked against member and employer records
• Bulk email and SMS union communications sent to targeted member segments
• Union meetings and event management with attendance tracking
• Union surveys for gathering timely feedback from members
• Union electronic signatures for membership applications and authorizations
• Field union organizing software to support member engagement

A stable, secure, and continuously evolving system

The shift to eMembership transformed Local 4070's operations. Administrative tasks that once took hours now take minutes, and staff can focus on advocacy and member support rather than reconciling systems.

• Operations streamlined end to end. Automated workflows, centralized data, and self-service for members compress what used to take days into minutes.
• Self-service drastically reduces admin workload. Members handle their own updates and inquiries through the member portal.
• Real-time outreach during critical moments. Push notifications via the mobile app give Local 4070 a direct channel to members during bargaining and job actions.
• Secure, fully supported platform. Calvin Gautschi described eMembership as "a stable, secure, and fully supported system that continuously evolves with top-tier upgrades."
• Suited to Canadian union operations. eMembership serves locals across Canada and the United States, with configuration that respects each local's specific operating model.