Thousands of Canadians travelling during the busy August Civic Holiday long weekend could face significant disruptions after the union representing WestJet’s 4,400 flight attendants issued a 72-hour strike notice, bringing the country’s second-largest airline closer to a possible labour stoppage.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents WestJet’s cabin crew, announced that negotiations with the airline remain deadlocked despite ongoing discussions. The union says major differences continue over key workplace issues, including compensation for duties performed on the ground before and after flights.
Alia Hussain, Chair of CUPE’s WestJet bargaining committee, said the union has continued negotiating in good faith and remains committed to reaching a fair collective agreement. She emphasized that there is still an opportunity to avoid a strike and confirmed that bargaining will continue around the clock in hopes of reaching a settlement before any job action begins.
Following the union’s announcement, WestJet responded by issuing its own 72-hour lockout notice. While both notices are largely procedural under Canadian labour laws, they establish the legal framework for either side to initiate a work stoppage if negotiations fail. Unless a tentative agreement is reached, flight attendants could legally begin strike action as early as 12:01 a.m. Mountain Time on Sunday, potentially affecting thousands of passengers travelling during one of the busiest weekends of the summer.
WestJet President and Chief Executive Officer Alexis von Hoensbroech said the decision to issue a lockout notice was not made lightly and expressed regret for the uncertainty facing travellers. He stressed that the airline continues to negotiate actively with the union while taking necessary steps to protect its flight network and minimize the possibility of passengers, crew members and aircraft becoming stranded if a work stoppage occurs.
The airline has already begun preparing contingency plans. WestJet is allowing customers with flights scheduled between July 30 and August 4 to make a one-time change to their travel plans or cancel their bookings without paying change or cancellation fees. The carrier has also advised travellers to closely monitor the status of their flights as negotiations continue.
WestJet has clarified that customers travelling on WestJet Encore regional flights or on code-share services operated by partner airlines, including Delta Air Lines, are not expected to be directly affected by any potential strike involving WestJet flight attendants. Should cancellations or delays occur on WestJet-operated services, the airline says affected passengers will be offered refunds or alternative travel arrangements where possible.
The union and the airline have also reached an operational agreement outlining procedures in the event of a strike or lockout. Under that agreement, any flight already in the air when job action begins will continue to its scheduled destination. Flight attendants who are unable to return immediately to their home base will receive hotel accommodation for up to one week or transportation to another Canadian city, depending on seat availability.
One of the central issues in the dispute is compensation for work performed outside actual flight time. The union argues that flight attendants are required to perform a variety of unpaid duties, including passenger boarding, safety preparations and other ground responsibilities. WestJet maintains that these tasks are already compensated through its existing “credit hour” system rather than through traditional hourly wages.
Aviation experts warn that even a short work stoppage could have serious financial consequences for the airline. John Gradek, an aviation management expert at McGill University, has noted that any interruption during the peak summer travel period could cost WestJet millions of dollars while disrupting travel plans for tens of thousands of passengers. The airline currently operates more than 600 flights each day, transporting over 70,000 passengers on some of its busiest travel days.
With negotiations continuing under significant time pressure, both sides remain hopeful that a settlement can be reached before any strike or lockout takes effect. Until then, travellers are being encouraged to remain informed, review their booking options and prepare for the possibility of schedule changes during the Civic Holiday long weekend.
Courtesy: The Canadian Press