WestJet has reached a $4.5 million settlement to resolve a sexual harassment class-action lawsuit filed over a decade ago by more than 3,000 flight attendants, the lead plaintiff and her attorney confirmed. The settlement terms, which were finalized in June, were approved by a B.C. judge on Monday. WestJet expressed satisfaction with the resolution.
The lawsuit was initiated in 2016 by former flight attendant Mandalena Lewis, who alleged a pilot sexually assaulted her during a layover in Hawaii in 2010. Subsequently, additional female employees came forward, leading to the case being certified as a class action by the B.C. Court of Appeal in 2022. The flight attendants accused WestJet of failing to provide a safe working environment with proper anti-harassment measures.
Following the settlement approval, Lewis expressed relief that the case had concluded but voiced disappointment over what she perceived as insufficient justice for the plaintiffs. She highlighted her dissatisfaction with the nominal dollar amount and WestJet’s lack of admission of wrongdoing under the agreement, despite acknowledging the limitations of the settlement given the circumstances.
The $4.5 million settlement will be divided among the 3,452 flight attendants involved in the lawsuit after deducting expenses, including legal fees. Each flight attendant is expected to receive approximately $400 from the settlement. Additionally, the judge reduced Lewis’s agreed-upon honorarium from $20,000 to $10,000.
WestJet stated its commitment to enhancing operational and training practices to prioritize the safety and well-being of its employees. As part of the settlement terms, the airline will engage a third-party consultant to conduct a workplace assessment aimed at evaluating workplace harassment prevalence, underreporting rates, and improving reporting and response mechanisms.
Lewis described the legal process as a “nightmare,” emphasizing the pervasive issue of sexual assault and harassment faced by female flight attendants within the airline industry. She underscored her motivation for pursuing the case to address the systemic problem and support fellow flight attendants who have encountered similar challenges.
Legal expert Joshua Coratti commented that the settlement appeared favorable for WestJet by averting potential liability from individual claims, which could have been more financially burdensome. He noted that while class-action lawsuits often result in lower individual monetary compensation, they serve to discourage harmful behavior and encourage companies to adhere to regulations.