WestJet Flight Attendants Strike Over Pay Dispute

Flight attendants with WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline, initiated a strike on Sunday due to a disagreement over pay. The strike was announced by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents the 4,400 cabin crew members at the airline. WestJet, a partner of Delta Airlines, confirmed the situation and canceled over 300 flights by early Sunday. This disrupted travel plans across Canada during a three-day weekend.

The main issue of contention revolves around the compensation for duties performed by flight attendants while still on the ground. The union claims some of this work is unpaid. Meanwhile, WestJet asserts its staff is compensated according to a ‘credit hour’ system rather than an hourly pay rate.

Alexis von Hoensbroech, CEO of the WestJet Group, stated, “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. Unfortunately, it wasn’t accepted.”

Union president Alia Hussain expressed the union’s efforts, stating negotiators “tried until the very last minute to get a fair deal that recognizes the value of the work cabin crews do.” Hussain added that “WestJet’s offer did not go far enough.”

Both parties are open to resuming negotiations to reach a resolution. The airline reported it had to suspend its scheduled flights using Boeing 737s and 787s, with travelers offered refunds or new travel arrangements. Direct communication with those affected will happen via email, while passengers who booked through agents or third-party platforms are advised to contact those sources.

WestJet Encore flights on a Q400, along with code-share flights operated by partners, remain unaffected.

Last summer, similar issues led to a strike by flight attendants at Air Canada, the nation’s largest carrier, which left more than 100,000 travelers stranded. That strike lasted three days before reaching an agreement.