The labor union representing 4,400 flight attendants at WestJet has served a 72-hour strike notice, potentially leading to a strike during the busy summer travel season. The Canadian Union of Public Employees stated that significant differences still exist between the two parties.
Alia Hussain, chair of the union’s WestJet division, emphasized the need for fair changes and expressed the ongoing efforts to secure a mutually acceptable agreement. Despite the strike notice, Hussain remained hopeful for a resolution without resorting to a strike.
In response, WestJet issued a 72-hour lockout notice following the union’s strike notice. The airline emphasized active negotiations to achieve a favorable outcome while regretting the inconvenience caused to passengers.
If an agreement is not reached, a potential job action could commence as early as 12:01 a.m. MT on Sunday. WestJet has been accommodating passengers with scheduled flights between July 30 and Aug. 4 by allowing them to make changes or cancellations without fees.
The agreement between the parties includes protocols for grounding flights and ensuring the safe return of cabin crew in the event of a work stoppage. Key issues raised by the union revolve around unpaid ground duties, while WestJet contends that all duties are compensated through a credit hour system.
John Gradek, an aviation management professor at McGill University, highlighted the substantial financial impact a brief shutdown would have on WestJet during the peak summer travel period. The airline, operating over 600 daily flights carrying thousands of passengers, aims to minimize disruptions for affected guests in the event of flight delays or cancellations.