WestJet Flight Attendants Initiate Strike Over Pay Issues
Flight attendants at WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline, began a strike on Sunday due to disputes regarding compensation. The Canadian Union of Public Employees, representing 4,400 cabin crew members, disclosed the strike on its Facebook page.
The strike prompted WestJet to cancel more than 300 flights early Sunday, disrupting travel during a three-day weekend.
Dispute Details
A significant issue in the dispute involves payment for duties performed by flight attendants while still on the ground. The union alleged that certain ground tasks remained unpaid. Conversely, WestJet stated cabin crew members are compensated through a “credit hour” system, different from an hourly wage.
“We presented a proposal that would have set a new standard for cabin crew in Canada, making WestJet the only airline to offer an hourly rate covering all time before and after flights, plus a double-digit wage increase in year one among other priorities the union raised,” mentioned Alexis von Hoensbroech, CEO of the WestJet Group.
Despite this proposal, it failed to secure acceptance from the union.
Union’s Perspective
Alia Hussain, president of the union chapter representing cabin crew members, highlighted efforts to secure a fair agreement that acknowledges the cabin crews’ contribution. According to Hussain, WestJet’s proposed terms didn’t meet expectations.
Negotiation Efforts and Impact
Both parties expressed willingness to resume discussions for an agreement. As of now, WestJet is unable to operate any flights utilizing Boeing 737s or 787s. Affected travelers will receive refunds or be rebooked, and WestJet plans to contact those who reserved directly via email.
Bookings made through travel agents or third-party platforms require contacting those entities directly. WestJet Encore flights on Q400 aircraft, along with partner-operated code-share flights, remain unaffected.
Previous Strikes
The strike follows a similar occurrence last summer at Air Canada, the nation’s largest airline. Air Canada flight attendants walked out over comparable groundwork payment issues, affecting over 100,000 travelers. That strike lasted three days before a resolution was achieved.