The union representing some 4,400 WestJet flight attendants called a strike early on Sunday morning August 2, plunging Canada into travel chaos on the busy August long weekend.
CUPE local 8125 and WestJet management were engaged in tense negotiations right up to the 12:01 am MT deadline on Sunday but were unable to reach a deal. The union’s Facebook page showed the words “On Strike” in bold letters as of 12:02 a.m. MT/2:02 a.m. ET.
WestJet flies some 560 routes per day, which means tens of thousands of customers who are now scrambling to find alternate means of transportation on a crazy busy weekend for travel.
WestJet on 01AUG said it had already cancelled 309 flights.
WestJet flight attendants have been seeking more pay for unpaid work, much as Air Canada flight attendants did before going on strike last summer.
In a statement issued 01AUG, the airline said it’s most recent proposal “was designed to be a transformative, industry-leading agreement for WestJet’s Cabin Crew, and directly addressed the key issues the union identified as its priorities. ”
The federal government could step in and order the attendants back to work, but it’s unclear if Prime Minister Mark Carney will take that step.
