b612-it appears that you were unable to understand the compensation summary by the errors in your post. It was anything but vague and deceptive. Although it is certainly not the simplest pay system, I would suggest that anyone who is unable to understand it would not be wanted to fly for WestJet.
Your accusation against the ESP was particularly questionable. Although you did not back up your charges with any actual fact, I would challenge your assertion that 'those good at math will tell you that the share purchase program is overrated'. It is fundamentally simple (though the tax man can make anything more complicated)--for every dollar you put in, the company puts in another dollar, up to 20% of your income. You can do anything you want with it after 1 year. If the stock averages out to the same, then you make a 100% return. If it goes up, you make proportionately more, and if it goes down, you make less. To clarify, if the stock drops 25%, then you only make 50% extra on the money you put in. If the stock drops 50%, then you make zero extra, or come out with the same as you put in. So before you choose to participate (it is optional), weigh the odds of the stock staying the same or going up, vs going down by 50% or more. If you think AC is going to eat our lunch with embraers (double WJ's casm, btw), then don't participate.
Good luck at AC. Sorry about your paycuts.