As the union representing 4,400 WestJet flight attendants readies to strike as early as Sunday, the airline said Friday that it had begun parking its fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft in anticipation of a work stoppage.
The WestJet component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) issued a 72-hour strike notice to the airline Thursday, to which WestJet responded with a lockout notice.
“At this time, negotiations have not resulted in an agreement and as a labour disruption approaches, WestJet must begin the difficult process of parking 737 aircraft,” WestJet said in a statement on Friday afternoon.
“This necessary step allows the airline to maintain operational control and protect the integrity of the broader network,” the airline added.
It said, however, that it remained “active at the bargaining table to achieve a mutually agreeable deal at the earliest possible time.”
Earlier on Friday, a CUPE spokesperson told Global News that “the bargaining committee was still focused on reaching a deal and avoiding a strike.”
If a negotiated agreement on a new contract can’t be reached by Aug. 2 at midnight mountain time, those unionized flight attendants could walk off the job.
However, CUPE clarified Thursday that a “strike notice does not mean flight attendants want to go on strike.”
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WestJet said it doesn’t anticipate any immediate impact to air travel, but that could change if an agreement isn’t reached by the deadline.
The airline said it “continues to operate normally” while negotiations continue; however, it said guests travelling between Thursday, July 30, and Tuesday, Aug. 4, can make a one-time change or cancellation at no additional cost.
This is being done to offer “added flexibility” to passengers, the airline said.
“Should flight delays or cancellations occur, impacted guests will be refunded or reaccommodated, as applicable,” WestJet said in a statement Thursday.
The airline will reach out via email to customers who booked directly on the WestJet website, while those who booked through a third-party platform or travel agent are being asked to contact them in the event of a work stoppage, WestJet said.
Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu expressed hope that the parties will reach a deal at the bargaining table.
“Canadians expect them to stay at that table and get a deal. The best deals are the ones that the parties arrive at together,” Hajdu told reporters Friday.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said the workers’ demands were “very fair.”
“I’m on the side of paying workers for every minute they work. When most people show up for a job, when they set foot in the door and the clock starts ticking, they get paid. The airline attendants are not paid for the grounded time,” Poilievre told reporters Friday.
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What are the sticking points?
On Thursday, the union said “The parties remain too far apart on several key issues,” however it said some progress was made during the bargaining process.
One of the core issues in negotiations is the same one that led to a three-day strike last summer by Air Canada flight attendants.
The WestJet cabin crew involved in the collective action are “seeking an end to the unfair practice of unpaid work,” CUPE said.
“Essential duties before boarding, during delays, emergency evacuations, and after arrival are not fully compensated. Flight attendants are responsible for safety from the moment they report to work, and not just when the aircraft moves,” a CUPE spokesperson told Global News Thursday.
“Some flight attendants are making below minimum wage when you factor in their unpaid hours — in some cases up to 35 unpaid hours every month.”
The flight attendants’ union has said that because of the “archaic flight credit system” under which members are paid, flight attendants “end up working roughly 35 hours free per month.”
WestJet says the credit hour system is “the standard pay model for cabin crew across North America” and that “block hours start when the aircraft leaves the gate and end when it arrives at the gate.” One credit hour equals one flight time hour.
— with files from Global’s Adriana Fallico
You should read up on the “Employment Standards Act”. There are sections for all of what you wrote about. The government has so many rules and regulations that unions are no longer required. The unions were brought in to protect people but with all the government regulations they are no longer needed. Case in point, you need to sign a form if you want to work any overtime and you can write how many hours you want to work if any. The company cannot let you go if you decide not to work overtime.
Respectfully to the person commenting that if one isn’t salaried, they can find another job. The problem is perfect competition doesn’t exist in the labour market because the employers have all the power. Unions raise wages, benefits and working conditions for all. Without them, we wouldn’t have minimum wages, worker safety, etc.
With a comment like that, I take it you never have been a salaried worker. Let me define it for you: Same pay every month and no overtime for hours worked. I was averaging 50 to 60 hours per week. If you don’t like that kind of work, quit and find another job.
Unions counter employer power. Why should workers work for free for greedy corporations?
Just force these greedy slackers back to work they get paid to much already.
If they had to do a real days work they would quit. Replace them with temporary foreign workers like Tim Hortons have.
Let them walk off the job. There are plenty of refugees and newcomers looking for work and they would be happy to take those positions. Tired of these conservative bleeding hearts constantly parading about wages for the working class.
But if Diederik Pen doesn’t financially rape employees he will have to wait an extra 3 weeks for his golden shower…
Again Canadians are held hostage by an industry that 2airlines have the monopoly over. After all monopolies are the Canadian way in a lot of sectors so much for healthy competition among companies
These people should be paid, from the time boarding commences. Let’s go west jet, pay them and let’s avoid a disruption we do not need in these days, with everything else that’s going on.
Not sure why some companies allegedly expect their employees to work free. Wasn’t that abolished 90 years ago?
I understand. I see. Aldmcjjancn29477419