WESTJET BACK ON TRACK AFTER MECHANICS STRIKE

WestJet says its operations have “stabilized” after a strike by its mechanics and that no further cancellations are expected as of today (Friday) after eight on Thursday and 30 on Wednesday. The airline says the total number of cancellations due to the strike was 1,171 in just over a week after about 680 workers walked off the job June 28.

The job action came despite a directive for binding arbitration from federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan.

A tentative deal was reached late Sunday night and the airline said in a statement Monday that further cancellations would be required over the coming days as the airline ramped up service again.

Workers still have to vote on the tentative deal, which the union has said gives the mechanics a 30% boost in total compensation over the contract’s five-year term.