WestJet Flight Attendants Overwhelmingly In Favor of Strike

‍CALGARY — The 8125 Local of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) representing 4,400 WestJet flight attendants announced Wednesday that its members had overwhelmingly voted in favor of strike action as negotiations toward a new collective agreement hit turbulence.

97.3% of members turned out with 99.4% voting “Yes.” Following a 21-day cooling-off, WestJet flight attendants could go on strike as early as August 2, with 72 hours of notice, with flight disruptions expected in the days prior as the carrier organizes its fleet prior to a full shutdown.

In a press release, the union stated that “from the beginning, its goal has been to achieve a negotiated agreement and minimize any impact on travellers. Due to stalled negotiations with WestJet, this strike vote became necessary to move the process forward at the bargaining table.”

CUPE 8125 President, Alia Hussain, also said: “The members of CUPE 8125 are united and determined. They voted to strike because they stand behind the bargaining priorities that they have identified, especially pay for all hours of work performed. WestJet should do the right thing and prevent travel disruptions for their passengers.”

Much of the public messaging from the union has centred around how flight attendants are paid, particularly around ground pay during boarding and deplaning, and the airline’s direction in recent years, heavily referencing the short-lived 180-seat configuration on some Boeing 737-800 and 737-8 jets that featured 28 inches of pitch and no recline for all basic economy seats.

Last August, Air Canada’s cabin crew went on strike, causing the airline to completely shut down for multiple days as the union and company remained far apart during negotiations and flight attendants defied orders to go back to work from the federal government. Air Canada’s FAs gained ground pay in their new contract, a percentage of their regular hourly wage 60 minutes before block hours begin for narrowbodies, 70 minutes for widebodies.