Brace yourselves, Canada: a WestJet pilots strike or lockout could begin Friday.
WestJet pilots have issued a 72-hour strike notice to the company and the government, and their union is warning that the airline could be shut down just before the busy May long weekend.
Meanwhile, Flair Airlines says it’s adding flights in Western Canada to help passengers who might be stranded by a WestJet pilots’ strike or company lockout.
The Air Line Pilots Association said in a news release late Monday that WestJet pilots plan to begin lawful job action early Friday morning, which the release said “could include grounding all aircraft and effectively shutting down operations.”
WestJet today (Tuesday, April 16) issued a lockout notice in response to the union decision and warned of coming “inconvenience and uncertainty.”
“The WestJet Group today has issued a lockout notice to the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the union that represents WestJet and Swoop pilots, in response to their strike notification. A work stoppage could occur as early as Friday, May 19, 2023, at 3 a.m. MT,” which is 5 a.m. Eastern Time.
“The decision to issue a lockout notice, in response to the actions taken by the union today, was not one that was made lightly, and we sincerely regret the inconvenience and uncertainty this continues to cause for our guests,” said Alexis von Hoensbroech, WestJet Group, Chief Executive Officer. “It is our responsibility to ensure the safety and complete control of our network at all times, to minimize the risk of stranding our guests, our crews and our aircraft. Our commitment and priority remains at the bargaining table, where we will continue to work around the clock to come to a reasonable agreement as soon as possible, in an effort to prevent labour action.”
WestJet pilots have issued a 72-hour strike notice. A strike could begin Friday, May 19, 2023.
Issuing a lockout notice does not mean a work stoppage will occur. However, in the coming days, the WestJet Group will take all necessary actions to manage the impacts as much as possible, including:
Beginning preparations to operate a reduced schedule – unfortunately, this will be a significant reduction from WestJet and Swoop’s current networks.
Proactively managing changes and cancellations, to ensure the ability to communicate with guests in advance of changes.
Providing flexible change and cancel options for those who wish to make alternate arrangements.
Writing on his Twitter feed (@AHoensbroech), von Hoensbroech said “We regret the union @WestJetALPA has served a strike notice. Our offer would have made our valued @WestJet pilots by far the best paid in Canada. As the union maintains unreasonable expectations we see no alternative then to lock them out as of Friday.”
Throughout negotiations, the WestJet Group says it has brought forward a generous contract that if agreed to will make its first officers and captains the highest paid narrow-body pilots in Canada, with a significant advantage over the next best paying Canadian airline. Furthermore, the proposed contract makes generous advancements to address the concerns of WestJet and Swoop pilots surrounding job security and scope.
“Despite efforts to be reasonable and provide significant improvements to the current contract, the union maintains its expectation of closing in towards U.S.–like wages, despite living and working in Canada. This expectation is not reasonable and is impeding the WestJet Group’s ability to reach an agreement in advance of the upcoming long weekend.”
“There is a path for a deal I think on job protection. We’re getting closer on scheduling. Pay is still the outlier,” Bernard Lewall, a union representative with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), told Reuters news service. “We need to narrow that gap between the North American carriers and WestJet,” he said on Tuesday in an interview.
Flair Airlines announced it has added extra flights between Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton beginning the holiday weekend.
“The airline hopes to help Canadians impacted by the (possible) WestJet pilots’ strike embark on their planned travels with minimal disruption,” officials said. “The first of the additional flights depart May 19, 2023. The airline is creating contingency plans to service more destinations with flight frequencies should the WestJet pilots’ strike continue for an extended period.
“Flair Airlines stands ready, willing, and able to add additional flights. We hope this measure will help WestJet passengers who otherwise could not travel due to the pilots’ strike,” said Stephen Jones, CEO of Flair Airlines. “Our teams are eager to help and the first of the extra flights went out for sale last night with a starting fare of $99.”
