Flight attendants at WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline, initiated a strike on Sunday over pay disagreements. The Canadian Union of Public Employees, representing 4,400 cabin crew members, shared the news on Facebook. Following the strike announcement, WestJet canceled more than 300 flights by early Sunday, disrupting travel plans during a significant three-day weekend in Canada.
Dispute Over Payment
A major point of contention involved how flight attendants are compensated for tasks performed on the ground. The union claimed that some such duties remain unpaid. In contrast, the company asserted that crew members receive compensation through a ‘credit hour’ system instead of an hourly wage.
We presented a proposal that would have set a new standard for cabin crew in Canada… Unfortunately, it wasn’t accepted,said Alexis von Hoensbroech, CEO of the WestJet Group.
Alia Hussain, president of the union chapter representing the cabin crew, mentioned that negotiators worked tirelessly to secure a fair agreement that acknowledges the value of cabin crew work.
WestJet’s offer did not go far enough,Hussain stated.
Impact on Operations
Both parties expressed readiness to resume negotiations. Currently, the airline cannot operate scheduled flights on Boeing 737s or 787s. Travelers affected will receive refunds or rebooking options. WestJet plans to contact customers directly via email for those who booked with them. Others who used travel agents or third-party platforms should reach out to those providers. WestJet Encore flights on Q400 aircraft and code-share flights operated by partners remain unaffected by the strike.
Last summer, a similar strike by Air Canada’s flight attendants, based partly on groundwork payment disputes, left over 100,000 travelers stranded during the peak season. That strike lasted three days before an agreement was reached.
Associated Press writer Jim Morris in Vancouver, British Columbia contributed to this report.
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