10
Loading video...
By Amanda Greenwood
Associate News Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Thousands of travelers across Canada and the United States are facing major disruptions on Sunday after WestJet flight attendants launched a strike, grounding a significant portion of the airline's network during one of the busiest weekends of the summer travel season.
The walkout follows failed contract negotiations between the carrier, which is Canada's second-largest airline, and the union representing roughly 4,400 cabin crew members.
In a statement issued on Saturday night, WestJet confirmed that it had been forced to cancel hundreds of flights in anticipation of the strike to “ensure the integrity of WestJet’s network, and to minimize the risk of stranding guests and aircraft.”
Read More on News
Why Have WestJet Flight Attendants Gone on Strike?
The strike centers largely on compensation.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents WestJet's flight attendants, says crew members are not paid for significant portions of their workday, including time spent preparing for flights, boarding passengers and carrying out duties before an aircraft leaves the gate or after it arrives.
The union is, therefore, seeking compensation from check-in through to clock-out, rather than only for time when the aircraft is in operation.
On July 30, CUPE officials said they would continue negotiations until shortly before the August 2 strike deadline, saying “there’s still time to avoid a strike…We will continue to bargain around the clock until this is resolved,” adding that it was looking forward to “further discussions” with WestJet.
The WestJet Component website indicated that flight attendants had gone on strike, displaying the status "On Strike," after the union and airline failed to reach a new collective agreement before the strike deadline.
WestJet, meanwhile, said it has offered what it described as an “industry-leading agreement,” including pay increases and compensation covering pre-flight and post-flight duties.
“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,” Alexis von Hoensbroech, CEO of the WestJet Group, said. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t accepted.”
Alia Hussain, president of the union chapter that represents the cabin crew, said negotiators “tried until the very last minute to get a fair deal that recognizes the value of the work cabin crews do.”
“WestJet’s offer did not go far enough," Hussain said.
...
Which Flights Are Affected?
WestJet said it had canceled 309 flights through Sunday night as part of efforts to manage the disruption and avoid stranding passengers and aircraft.
Affected flights are expected to include many services operated by WestJet's Boeing 737 fleet across its domestic and international network.
Because WestJet operates an extensive domestic service through several major hubs, multiple routes, which are likely to see disruptions, include flights connecting:
- Calgary
- Vancouver
- Edmonton
- Toronto
- Ottawa
- Winnipeg
- Halifax
- Regina
- Saskatoon
Flights between Canada and major U.S. destinations, including cities such as Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Orlando and New York, may also be impacted depending on aircraft and crew availability.
However, WestJet has indicated that WestJet Encore regional flights and many codeshare services operated by partner airlines, including Delta Air Lines, are not expected to be directly affected.
What Should Passengers Do?
WestJet has said affected customers will be eligible for refunds or rebooking where possible.
The airline previously introduced flexible travel policies allowing travelers booked between July 30 and August 4 to make a one-time change or cancellation without additional fees.
Travelers should:
- Check flight status before leaving for the airport.
- Monitor email and text notifications from WestJet.
- Review refund and rebooking options online.
- Contact travel agents directly if bookings were made through third-party providers.
- Consider alternative carriers if travel is urgent.
Air Canada has also said it is working with WestJet to help accommodate some displaced passengers where seats are available.
What Is the Outlook for the Week Ahead?
Negotiations remain ongoing, and both the union and WestJet have indicated they are prepared to return to the bargaining table.
Canada's labor minister described the strike as disappointing but expressed hope that an agreement can still be reached through negotiations.
The key question for travelers is how quickly the airline can restore operations once a deal is reached. Even if the dispute is resolved in the coming days, aviation experts note that airlines often require additional time to reposition aircraft, reassign crews and work through passenger backlogs.
Last summer, flight attendants at Air Canada, the country’s largest carrier, stranded more than 100,000 travelers during peak travel season with a strike partly over the same issue of groundwork. That work stoppage lasted three days before the sides came to an agreement.
Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Tobias Meyjes and Anthony Murray.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines