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.
WestJet says all flights have been cancelled. As of 7 a.m. ET on Sunday, FlightAware.com reports 723 cancellations; 115 on Saturday, Aug. 1, 495 today and 113 for Monday, Aug. 3.
WestJet said 250,000 customers have had their August long weekend travel cancelled. The cancellations don’t include WestJet Encore or WestJet partner airlines, such as Delta.
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.
“We’re disappointed to be here, this directly impacts the travel plans of our guests, our WestJetters and the communities and businesses we serve,” said Alexis von Hoensbroech, Chief Executive Officer of the WestJet Group. “Our focus remains on staying available for the union to reach an agreement.
“We presented a proposal that would have set a new standard for cabin crew in Canada, making WestJet the only airline to offer an hourly rate covering all time before and after flights, plus a double-digit wage increase in year one among other priorities the union raised. Unfortunately, it wasn’t accepted.”
WestJet said all impacted guests “will be refunded or reaccommodated, as applicable.”
WestJet is obligated to put customers on competing airline flights if available, but that’s likely impossible on a busy, long weekend in summer.
“We tried until the very last minute to get a fair deal that recognizes the value of the work cabin crews do,” Alia Hussain, CUPE 8125 President, said in a statement sent to Open Jaw. “WestJet’s offer did not go far enough.”
“We are on strike because we believe we deserve better,” Hussain said. “We are ready to go back to the table to settle. We hope the federal government will not interfere and will let the bargaining process run its course. Unpaid work is a big piece of our priorities, but we are bargaining a comprehensive contract.
“We would not be here if they had taken our concerns seriously for almost eleven months of bargaining.”
WestJet flight attendants have been seeking more pay for unpaid work, much as Air Canada flight attendants did before going on strike last summer.
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.
