WestJet and flight attendants union reach tentative deal ending one-day strike
WestJet and the Canadian Union of Public Employees announced a tentative contract agreement that ends a 24-hour strike by 4,400 flight attendants, which had caused hundreds of flight cancellations.
WestJet announced early Monday that it had reached a tentative contract agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees, representing about 4,400 flight attendants, bringing a one-day strike to a close. The walkout, which began on Sunday, forced the airline to cancel 645 flights across domestic and international routes, affecting passengers on Boeing 737 and 787 aircraft.
"This tentative agreement represents meaningful progress," said Alia Hussain, president of the local union chapter, adding that the deal would better recognize and compensate cabin-crew work.
The union said the strike was over and that flight attendants would return to duty, though the agreement still requires ratification by union members. WestJet’s chief executive, Alexis von Hoensbroech, said the airline’s teams were working to restore service and thanked passengers for their patience.
The dispute centered on demands for higher wages and pay for ground duties such as passenger boarding and safety briefings, which are currently unpaid. Passengers whose flights were canceled were offered refunds or re-accommodation.
The strike marked the second major airline labor disruption in Canada this year, following a government-ordered arbitration that ended a similar walkout at Air Canada last summer.