WestJet flight attendants have initiated a strike following unsuccessful negotiations, resulting in the grounding of flights
Flight attendants at WestJet in Canada initiated a strike on Sunday after unsuccessful negotiations with the country’s second-largest airline, resulting in grounded flights during the busy summer travel season.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees, representing 4,400 flight attendants at the carrier primarily owned by Onex Corp, is advocating for compensation for its members from the moment they check in until they clock out, a practice that is not currently in place.
The strike comes after a four-day work stoppage by flight attendants last August at larger competitor Air Canada, underscoring wider initiatives by flight attendants in Canada and the U.S. to contest a compensation system that primarily compensates cabin crew while an aircraft is in motion.
The union had provided 72 hours’ notice on Thursday to the airline, indicating that a strike could occur if negotiations did not yield an agreement. In response, WestJet issued a lock-out notice.
The union on Sunday stated that it had made every effort until the final moment to secure an agreement, but that “WestJet’s offer did not go far enough.”
We are striking because we believe we deserve more. “We are prepared to return to the negotiating table to reach a settlement,” stated Alia Hussain, president of the union’s WestJet component.
The airline, holding a domestic market share of approximately 30%, has confirmed the work stoppage and stated that it will refund or reaccommodate passengers who are affected. “We presented a proposal… to provide an hourly rate that encompasses all time before and after flights, along with a double-digit wage increase in the first year, among other priorities raised by the union. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t accepted,” said WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech.
Patty Hajdu, Canada’s jobs minister, characterized the development as disappointing. A strike or lockout does not imply that an agreement is unattainable; the expectation is that the parties involved can and should reach a consensus at the bargaining table,” she added.
The airline canceled 309 flights through Sunday night in preparation for the strike. It aimed to “reduce the likelihood of guests and aircraft being stranded.
Last year, flight attendants defied the Canadian government’s intervention to halt the Air Canada strike. The WestJet division of the union expressed its hope that the Canadian government would refrain from intervening in the bargaining process.
