Nearly 4,400 flight attendants at WestJet, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees CUPE, officially went on strike after contract negotiations with Canada’s second-largest airline collapsed.
The core issue revolved around “unpaid work”. The primary catalyst for the strike is the compensation structure for ground duties.
Flight attendants are pushing to be paid from the moment they check in until they clock out, challenging the traditional airline standard where cabin crews are primarily paid only while the aircraft is physically in motion.
Failed Negotiations:
Flight attendants at Canada’s WestJet went on strike on Sunday after failing to reach a deal with the country’s second-largest carrier, grounding flights during the busy summer travel season.
CUPE issued a 72-hour strike notice, prompting WestJet to counter with a 72-hour lockout notice. The union is asking for its members to be paid from the time they check in to when they clock out, which is not currently the case.
Despite late-stage bargaining with WestJet claiming it put forward a proposal addressing pre and post-flight pay alongside double-digit wage increases—both sides failed to bridge the gap before the deadline expired
Flight Disruptions & Impact on Travelers:
To combat the situation, WestJet proactively canceled over 300 flights ahead of and into the strike to safely park aircraft and prevent stranding passenger’s mid-journey.
The airline implemented flexible change and cancellation policies for affected customers, offering refunds or re-accommodation where applicable.
The strike highlights broader efforts by flight attendants in Canada and the U.S. to challenge a compensation structure that mostly pays cabin crew when an aircraft is in motion.
