WestJet Flight Attendants Strike Over Pay Dispute

Flight attendants with WestJet, Canada's second-largest airline, began a strike on Sunday in a dispute over pay. The walkout, announced by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, represents 4,400 cabin crew members and has resulted in the cancellation of more than 300 flights, impacting travelers during a three-day weekend.

WestJet confirmed the strike and stated its priority is to reach an agreement with the union. A central issue in the negotiations has been the compensation for flight attendants' duties performed while on the ground. The union contends that some of this work is unpaid, while the airline asserts that its staff is compensated through a "credit hour" system rather than a traditional hourly rate.

Alexis von Hoensbroech, CEO of the WestJet Group, expressed that the company presented a proposal aimed at setting a new standard for cabin crew in Canada, which would have made WestJet the only airline offering hourly rates for pre-flight and post-flight duties, along with a significant wage increase in the first year. He noted that this proposal was not accepted by the union.

Due to the strike, WestJet has canceled all scheduled flights operated on Boeing 737s and 787s. Passengers affected by these cancellations will receive refunds or be re-accommodated. The airline is contacting affected customers directly via email, and those who booked through third parties are advised to contact their travel agents or booking platforms.

Flights operated by WestJet Encore on Q400 aircraft, as well as code-share flights operated by partner airlines, remain unaffected by the strike.

This situation echoes a similar event last summer when flight attendants at Air Canada, the country's largest carrier, went on strike for three days over compensation for ground duties, stranding over 100,000 travelers during the peak season.