What to know
- WestJet flight attendants could walk off the job as early as Aug. 2 after CUPE Local 8125 issued a 72-hour strike notice amid negotiations.
- WestJet has responded with a lockout notice, though both the airline and the union say they remain at the bargaining table and are working to reach a deal.
- Passengers won’t see immediate disruptions, but WestJet has introduced flexible change and cancellation options for travellers flying between July 30 and Aug. 4 while preparing contingency plans if a strike or lockout occurs.
- The union says flight attendants are fighting to be paid for all hours worked, arguing cabin crew currently perform duties such as boarding, safety checks and ground delays without pay, amounting to as much as 35 unpaid hours a month.
WestJet passengers travelling this long weekend may want to keep an eye on negotiations after the airline’s flight attendants issued a 72-hour strike notice that could lead to action as early as Sunday.
According to CUPE Local 8125, a union that represents 4,400 WestJet flight attendants, the notice is coming as the airline and union fail to reach an agreement during negotiations.
“We have been clear about what needs to change, and we have worked hard to reach a fair deal,” CUPE Local 8125 President Alia Hussain said in a statement.
According to Hussain, workers remain committed to negotiations and the possibility of avoiding a strike without government interference, in order to avoid disruptions for passengers.
“There’s still time to avoid a strike… We will continue to bargain around the clock until this is resolved. We want a fair contract for our members that recognizes the value of flight attendants’ work and recognizes our position as employees of the second-largest carrier in Canada.”
Unionized flight attendants could be walking off the job as soon as Sunday, Aug. 2 at 12 a.m. MDT, or 2 a.m. EST, if an agreement is not reached by then.
WestJet responds with lockout notice
WestJet responded to the strike notice with their own lockout notice, which could lock out workers as soon as Aug. 2 at 12:01 a.m. MDT or 2:01 a.m. EST if negotiations remain unsuccessful.
“The decision to issue a lockout notice, in response to the actions taken by the union, was not one that was made lightly. We sincerely regret the inconvenience and uncertainty this continues to cause for our guests,” Alexis von Hoensbroech, WestJet Group’s CEO, said.
Similar to the union, WestJet said it’s committed to reaching an agreement, also adding they hope to avoid disruptions.
“Our commitment remains at the bargaining table, where we will continue to work around the clock to come to an agreement that provides value and meaningful improvements for our Cabin Crew and is sustainable for our company,” Hoensbroech added.
According to the airline, neither notice pose immediate impacts to WestJet services.
WestJet, flight attendants agree on wind-down agreement
With both notices scheduled for Sunday, WestJet and CUPE Local 8125 have signed an agreement to establish winding down flight operations if a strike or lockout occurs.
Westjet said it will be tracking action to minimize impacts of possible service disruptions, including offering flexible change and cancellation policies for guests travelling between July 30 and Aug. 4, who wish to change their travel plans.
In addition, if a strike or lockout occurs, flight attendants who are currently operating a flight would complete a set flight through the scheduled destination, and members who are mid-pairing might be required to keep working for the purpose of returning the aircraft, crew and guests to Canadian airports.
Members who cannot be returned to the base will either receive hotel accommodations for up to seven days or be provided with transportation to a Canadian city.
If the notices are carried out, about 75,000 passengers could be impacted by disruptions per day, according to media reports.
Flight attendants call for more hours to be paid
The strike notice comes after CUPE 8125 revealed its members overwhelmingly voted in favour of striking earlier this month.
According to the union, with a 97.3 per cent turnout, 99.4 per cent of its members voted in favour of authorizing a strike.
The union has been calling out Canadian airlines for alleged unpaid labour, claiming that flight attendants are only paid for their time in the air, and not getting paid for conducting boarding, safety sweeps, assisting passengers, and ground delays. The union claims WestJet flight attendants work up to 35 monthly hours for free.
This is the same issue raised by unionized Air Canada flight attendants, which led to a strike that impacted over 500,000 customers last summer.
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The dispute follows a series of high-profile labour negotiations across Canada’s airline industry in recent years, as unions representing pilots, mechanics and flight attendants have pushed for higher wages, improved scheduling and compensation for duties performed before takeoff and after landing.
