WestJet has reached a tentative agreement with the union representing its flight attendants, bringing an end to a strike that disrupted operations across Canada during the country’s Civic Holiday weekend.
The agreement, announced on Aug. 3, ends the work stoppage and withdraws both the strike and lockout notices. It must still be ratified by members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents about 4,400 cabin crew.
WestJet said it has begun restoring its flight schedule but warned that returning aircraft and crews to their planned positions will take time. The airline did not provide a timeline for a full recovery.
The strike began on Aug. 2 after negotiations over a new labor agreement collapsed. Flight attendants had sought compensation covering more of their duty period, arguing that the existing pay model left them unpaid during boarding and other ground duties.
The strike disrupted WestJet’s operations throughout the holiday weekend, with hundreds of flights canceled and about 250,000 passengers affected, according to the airline.
Union officials said the tentative agreement addresses the wage gap between WestJet flight attendants and cabin crews at other Canadian airlines, although financial details have not yet been released. The proposed contract is expected to be submitted to members for ratification within 30 days.
