WestJet flight attendants to end strike after reaching tentative wage deal
The union representing flight attendants at Canada's WestJet reached a tentative deal with the carrier Monday, ending a strike that led to cancellations.
WestJet's flight attendants have agreed to end their strike, settling a wage dispute that caused hundreds of cancellations. The Canadian Union of Public Employees, representing 4,400 cabin crew members, secured a deal with the airline. The new agreement will pay workers from the moment they check in until they clock out, rather than just during flight time.
WestJet has not disclosed the specific deal terms, which will be voted on by cabin crew members. The union's president, Alia Hussain, noted that the agreement will enhance the flight credit system and provide general compensation increases. The strike started on Sunday after negotiations broke down, following an earlier four-day walkout by WestJet's rivals, Air Canada, which left half a million passengers stranded.
WestJet, Canada's second-largest carrier, canceled 615 flights as of August 4, according to estimates. The carrier had previously proposed a 13% wage hike this year, followed by 2.5% annual increases through 2029, plus additional pay for all hours worked, amounting to another 12% increase. Canada's jobs minister, Patty Hajdu, welcomed the news of the agreement, stating that the federal government and Canadians support the deal.
The strike disrupted travel plans for approximately 250,000 passengers during a Canadian three-day holiday weekend.
Written by urgent.news from CNBC's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
