WestJet Flight Attendants Strike Over Pay Dispute

Flight attendants at WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline, initiated a strike on Sunday due to disagreements regarding compensation. The Canadian Union of Public Employees, representing the airline’s 4,400 cabin crew members, announced the strike via its Facebook page. In response, WestJet canceled over 300 flights, disrupting travel plans across Canada during a three-day weekend.

The central issue revolves around the payment structure for ground duties performed by flight attendants. While the union claims that certain tasks are unpaid, WestJet asserts that its staff is compensated through a ‘credit hour’ system as opposed to an hourly wage.

CEO of the WestJet Group, Alexis von Hoensbroech, stated, “We presented a proposal that would have established a new standard for cabin crew in Canada. This included an hourly rate covering all time before and after flights, along with a substantial wage increase in the first year addressing various union priorities.” However, the proposal was not accepted.

“Negotiators worked tirelessly to secure a fair agreement recognizing the value of cabin crews’ contributions,” said Alia Hussain, president of the union chapter representing the cabin crew. “WestJet’s offer lacked sufficient provisions.”

Both parties expressed willingness to resume talks in pursuit of an agreement. WestJet stated it could not operate scheduled flights on its Boeing 737s or 787s. Affected travelers will receive refunds or alternate accommodations. WestJet indicated it would contact individuals directly via email, while passengers booking through agents or third-party platforms should reach out to them.

WestJet Encore flights on Q400 aircraft, as well as code-share flights managed by airline partners, remain unaffected.

Last summer, Air Canada’s flight attendants staged a similar strike, impacting over 100,000 travelers during peak travel season due to the same groundwork issue. That strike lasted three days before reaching a resolution.

Jim Morris from the Associated Press in Vancouver, British Columbia contributed to this report.