| WestJet pilots have called off a potential strike. But it’s not clear when service will return to normal.
Duncan Dee, a former chief operating officer at Air Canada, told Global News it will likely be until mid-next-week before WestJet is back operating at 100 per cent capacity.
“What’s happened over the last few days, you should look at it in terms of a giant jigsaw puzzle, which was already well put together — and then WestJet comes in and they have to take each and every piece of that jigsaw puzzle apart,” he said.
The website Flight Aware reported that some 107 WestJet flights were cancelled on Thursday, or about 29%. That’s roughly the same as Thursday.
But for Saturday (May 20) it was reporting just 18 cancelled WestJet flights, or 5%.
“The WestJet Group is ramping up its operations as quickly and efficiently as possible, however the full resumption of operations will take time. Guests remain encouraged to continue to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport,” airline officials said in a statement.
The WestJet Group and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the certified union representing WestJet and Swoop pilots, today announced they have reached a tentative agreement. Both parties now await the ratification vote to be put forward to membership.
The Globe and Mail reports that the contract, which must be ratified by WestJet and Swoop’s 1,800 pilots, makes them the highest-paid crews on narrow-body aircraft in Canada, and provides double-digit pay increases in the first year, said Tim Perry, Canadian president of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA).It’s a significant step that saves a potentially disastrous strike just as the May long weekend is getting underway.
“The WestJet Group is pleased to have reached a tentative agreement that is industry-leading within Canada and recognizes the important contributions of our valued pilots by providing meaningful improvements to job security and scope, working conditions and wages,” said Alexis von Hoensbroech, WestJet Group Chief Executive Officer. “We appreciate we were able to arrive at a deal, however, recognize the impact on our guests and we sincerely appreciate their patience during this time. We are pleased to now return our focus to providing friendly, reliable and affordable air service to Canadians for years to come.”
WestJet pilots made the following statement on their Twitter account: “Following 8 months of negotiations, we are pleased to announce that the pilots have reached an Agreement in Principle (AIP) with @WestJet on our second agreement. There will be NO labour action.”
Pilots had called for a strike to begin at 5 a.m. Eastern Time today, just as the May long weekend would be kicking in.
No details of the settlement have been released, but pilots said on their Twitter feed that it was a hard-fought victory.
It also should set a target for Air Canada pilots, who could be negotiating with Canada’s largest airline this summer.
 westjet-settlement “Got a tentative agreement with our pilots,” WestJet CEO Alexis Von Hoensbroech wrote on his Twitter feed, @AHoensbroech. “Thanks for hard and constructive negotiations to the final deadline, now it’s time to look forward and work together. Will ramp up our network as quickly as we can.”
Canadian Press reports that Bernard Lewall, who heads the union’s WestJet contingent, had said the workers’ issues revolved around pay, job security and scheduling, with pilots earning roughly half of what some of their U.S. counterparts make.
In an ALPA statement, Lewall said union leaders believe the contract “delivers on the goals of better job security, enhanced compensation, and more flexible schedules to allow for a better work/life balance consistent with collective agreements other ALPA-represented pilot groups are signing with their employers.”
“This contract will also help solve many of WestJet’s pilot attraction and retention issues, benefiting everyone involved from our company to our passengers and fellow employees,” he said.
Delta Airlines earlier this year gave its pilots a 34% pay hike over four years.
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