Overview
- Flight attendants represented by CUPE walked off the job on Sunday after 72-hour strike and lockout notices, forcing WestJet to cancel hundreds of jet flights and park aircraft to avoid stranding passengers.
- WestJet and CUPE announced a tentative agreement early Monday that both sides say evolves the airline’s credit-hour system to recognise more ground work and includes general wage increases.
- The union has withdrawn its strike notice and WestJet has withdrawn its lockout notice while members prepare to vote on ratification, but normal flight schedules will take time to resume and customers should expect continued disruption.
- WestJet says its earlier offer included increased pay called credit-hour changes and multi-year wage rises, while the union says the tentative deal specifically recognises unpaid pre- and post-flight duties such as boarding, safety checks and delays.
- Federal mediators and the jobs minister were involved in talks and the settlement follows a similar Air Canada dispute last year, a precedent that could push broader changes to how cabin crews are paid and how future airline labour disputes are handled.