With a threatened work stoppage looming for 4,400 flight attendants at Canada’s second-largest air carrier after their union issued a 72-hour strike notice early Thursday morning, WestJet responded to the union’s move by issuing a 72-hour lockout notice. Here’s what that means:
Have the strike and lockout started?
Not yet. The flight attendants represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees have signalled the intent to go on strike, with negotiations continuing during a 72-hour notice period.
The notice period runs out on Sunday at 12:01 a.m. MT, or 2:01 a.m. ET, which is the earliest a strike could begin if a deal is not reached. It’s possible the two sides may come to an agreement earlier, or continue negotiating past the deadline if they are close to a deal.
WestJet said in a news release on Thursday that it is still actively negotiating to reach a deal.
“The decision to issue a lockout notice, in response to the actions taken by the union, was not one that was made lightly. We sincerely regret the inconvenience and uncertainty this continues to cause for our guests,” said CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech in a statement.
In a separate release, Alia Hussain, chair of CUPE’s WestJet contingent said, “We have been clear about what needs to change, and we have worked hard to reach a fair deal. There’s still time to avoid a strike. We will continue to bargain around the clock until this is resolved.”
Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said Wednesday that “talks are progressing” and he remained hopeful a new collective agreement could be negotiated.
Will all WestJet flights be cancelled?
WestJet has said the notices issued by the union and the airline do not immediately affect operations.
However, if the two sides are not able to come to a tentative agreement, some flights could start to be grounded by Friday.
WestJet said that in the coming days it will communicate with ticket-holders in advance of changes or cancellations to their flights.
Travellers booked on its regional WestJet Encore service or code-share flights run by an airline partner such as Delta Air Lines will not be affected by a strike, the carrier said.
What should I know about an upcoming flight?
Ahead of the potential strike, WestJet has been allowing passengers travelling between July 30 and Aug. 4 to make a one-time change or cancellation with no fees. If delays or cancellations occur, the airline said affected passengers will be refunded or re-accommodated as applicable.
The airline said travellers who booked with WestJet directly will be notified of any changes through the contact information provided in their booking, and those who booked through a third party such as a travel agent should contact them directly.
Previous labour standoffs in the aviation industry have led to increased flight cancellations a few days before a strike.
How did we get here?
On July 15, WestJet flight attendants approved a strike mandate if the two sides are not able to reach a deal.
Union members voted 99% in favour of the strike mandate, with turnout topping 97%. Following a cooling-off period, the cabin crew could go on strike as soon as Aug. 2, which is a long weekend in most of the country.
On July 14, CUPE held rallies across the country in a “day of action” as part of a public-relations campaign. At the Calgary rally, some 250 WestJet flight attendants stood side by side in front of the airline’s headquarters. Meanwhile, ads have appeared on various platforms arguing the cabin crews’ case.
CUPE represented around 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants who went on strike last summer and ultimately secured compensation increases. Ottawa intervened less than 12 hours after their strike began, requesting the Canada Industrial Relations Board end the strike and send the parties to binding arbitration.
But the board’s order was defied by union officials, leading it to declare the strike unlawful. Air Canada workers remained on the picket lines until the two sides came to a tentative deal three days into the strike.
What is this dispute all about?
Compensation for work done on the ground remains a key stumbling block in the talks, less than a year after the same issue sparked a work stoppage by Air Canada flight attendants. The union has characterized certain ground duties as unpaid, but WestJet describes it differently.
WestJet’s current “credit hour” system combines flight time, ground duties, delays and other labour into a “single, higher rate of pay” that is then credited across the work day, the company says on its website.
The pay rate ranges between $28.88 and $53.61 per credit hour, the company says. At 80 credit hours a month – considered full-time work – that adds up to between $2,300 and $4,300.
Many airlines operate under a similar structure, but Delta Air Lines spearheaded reforms in 2022 when it became the first carrier in North America to pay flight attendants specifically for work done on the ground. American Airlines and Alaska Airlines followed suit with boarding pay of 50% of regular rates.
John Gradek, who teaches aviation management at McGill University, has said even a brief shutdown would cost the carrier millions of dollars during the height of summer travel – on a long weekend across much of Canada.
The airline says it operates more than 600 flights per day carrying legions of passengers – more than 70,000 on some days.
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