WestJet flight attendants strike after contract talks fail, grounding hundreds of flights

Strike begins

Flight attendants at WestJet, Canada's second-largest airline, went on strike early Sunday after contract negotiations collapsed. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 8125, representing 4,400 cabin crew, said the walkout began shortly after 2 a.m. Eastern. Over 4,000 flight attendants joined the strike, the union announced on Facebook. The union had issued a 72-hour strike notice on July 30, and WestJet responded with a lockout notice, which can involve withholding pay and preventing employees from working. The union said it had been bargaining for almost 11 months without the company taking its concerns seriously.

Pay for ground work at issue

The central dispute is compensation for duties performed while the aircraft is on the ground, such as passenger boarding and safety demonstrations. The union argues that much of this work is unpaid. WestJet says its staff are paid through a "credit hour" system rather than an hourly rate, and that its latest proposal would have made it the only Canadian airline to offer an hourly rate covering all pre- and post-flight time. The company also offered a double-digit wage increase.

We tried until the very last minute to get a fair deal that recognizes the value of the work cabin crews do. WestJet's offer did not go far enough.

Hussain added that unpaid work is a major priority, but the union is bargaining a comprehensive contract. She urged the federal government not to interfere and to let the bargaining process run its course.

Flight disruptions

WestJet canceled 309 flights as of early Sunday, after grounding about 80 flights on Saturday to avoid stranding passengers and crew. The airline said it could not operate any scheduled flights on Boeing 737s or 787s. WestJet Encore flights on Q400 aircraft and code-share flights with partner airlines were unaffected. The carrier normally operates around 700 flights daily and carries more than 70,000 passengers per day during peak seasons, according to the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. The strike falls on a long weekend in most parts of Canada, amplifying the disruption. The airline's most popular routes are domestic, but flights to the United States, Europe and Asia were also affected. At Toronto Pearson International Airport, WestJet counters were almost deserted late Saturday afternoon as the airline wound down operations. Travelers were offered refunds or re-accommodation, with updates sent by email.

Reactions

WestJet said in a statement that its proposal "would have set a new standard for cabin crew in Canada." The airline did not immediately respond to overnight requests for additional comment on Sunday. Deborah Yedlin, president and CEO of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, noted the airline's role as a major employer and economic driver in Calgary, warning that disruption to this essential service during a busy travel season is concerning.

What's next

The union said it is ready to return to the bargaining table. Hussain stated that the flight attendants "are on strike because we believe we deserve better" and expressed hope that the government would allow negotiations to proceed without intervention. No new talks were scheduled as of Sunday morning.