WestJet, the second-largest airline in Canada, is making preparations to gradually cease operations in anticipation of a potential strike by its flight attendants or a lockout. Despite this contingency plan, negotiations are ongoing between the union and the company, suggesting that a labor dispute is not inevitable. The understanding reached between the union and the airline for winding down operations is not a sign of escalating towards labor action, according to a note from WestJet’s vice-president of inflight operations, Robert Antoniuk.
Federal mediators are actively engaged in the negotiations, as confirmed by Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon, who expressed optimism for a negotiated settlement. John Gradek, a former Air Canada director and current faculty lecturer at McGill University, emphasized the necessity for airlines like WestJet to have pre-positioning plans in place to prevent disruptions in case of a shutdown.
While no flight cancellations have been announced by WestJet in connection with the potential labor dispute, the airline has offered to waive cancellation or change fees for passengers traveling between July 30 and August 4. The unionized flight attendants, represented by CUPE WestJet Component, are considering a strike if an agreement is not reached by August 2 due to issues surrounding compensation for hours worked.
The current payment system for flight attendants at WestJet has been a point of contention, with the union claiming that certain duties are not compensated adequately. The dispute centers on the method of calculating payment based on “credit hours,” which the airline argues is a standard practice in the industry. The ongoing negotiations aim to resolve these issues to avoid potential disruptions in WestJet’s operations.