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WestJet’s general annual meeting will be anything but general, as citizens will be on-the-ground asking questions regarding sexual assault allegations within the airline.
Emma Pullman, lead campaign strategist at SumOfUs, an international corporate watchdog group will be at the general meeting asking and appealing to shareholders to vote against reappointing CEO Gregg Saretsky.
The appeal is in relation to a lawsuit that was filed in the B.C. Supreme Court on March 1, in which the plaintiff Mandalena Lewis, an ex-flight attendant with the airline claimed that WestJet failed to investigate and respond to her report of a sexual assault.
Lewis said that she was assaulted in January 2010 by a pilot during a layover in Hawaii. After being assaulted the flight attendant reported the incident to her First Officer, Manager and the local police.
Lewis said that WestJet failed to investigate the allegations, but did, however, tell her to stay quiet about the assault. The airline then took away the pilot’s ability to fly to where the assault allegedly took place, and changed Lewis’ schedule around so she did not have to work with the pilot again.
Since Lewis filed her lawsuit at least eight other WestJet employees have come forward claiming they were also sexual assaulted.
More than 28,000 Canadians have signed a petition calling for Saretsky to step down and for company to overhaul its sexual harassment and assault prevention and reporting procedures.
During the general meeting Pullman will also be delivering a letter from shareholders asking that WestJet’s Board Chair and Safety Health and Environment Committee Chair to replace Saretsky.
"It is unacceptable that while victims of sexual assault continue to come forward, and allegations that WestJet’s Business Code of Conduct was disregarded with impunity continue to mount, that Mr. Saretsky continues to lead our company," the letter states.
A spokesperson with WestJet said they are aware that SumOfUs will be attending the general meeting and they said WestJet is prepared to answer any questions that are posed.
On Mar. 4, Saretsky wrote a blog post about the allegations. Saretsky said there were investigations into the Lewis case, but were then subsequently closed.
“Allegations are a serious concern whether true or untrue. We are acting in accordance with our code of conduct and ethics, and if new information comes out we will thoroughly investigate the matter.”
The CEO never mentioned anything about stepping down.
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