WestJet flight attendants threaten to strike¶
Potential labour action comes amid height of summer travel season.
Flight attendants for Canada’sWestJetare threatening to strike as soon as 2 August in what could be a major disruption during the height of the summer travel season.
The employees’ chapter of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) says it remains “too far apart on some key issues” with Canada’s second-largest carrier.
WestJet responded by issuing a lockout notice to the workers and allowing passengers more flexibility to change or cancel flights through 4 August.
“We will continue to work around the clock to come to an agreement that provides value and meaningful improvements for our cabin crew and is sustainable for our company,” WestJet says.
Negotiations between the company and CUPE began in September 2025 ahead of the current contract’s expiration at the end of that year.
WestJet says 38 articles have been agreed to in principle, with another 29 in progress.
The parties’ main disagreements involve flight attendants’ credit-hour pay structure, which is common in the industry, and only accounts for time an aircraft is in the air. The union says this leaves attendants unpaid during boarding and otherwise when aircraft are on the ground; the airline says higher hourly pay rates make up for it.
However, recent contracts between cabin crew and airlines including Air Canada, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines have added partial pay for boarding time.
Air Canada, WestJet’s top competitor, agreed to compensation for boarding time in 2025 aftercabin crew went on strike. By 2028, crew will receive ground pay at 70% of hourly rates.Subscribe to gain access to all newsAlready have a subscription?Log in.Choose your subscriptionConsidering a corporate subscription?Contact usto find out more.
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