WestJet has begun cancelling flights ahead of a possible strike or lockout affecting flight attendants, saying it is reducing its schedule to avoid widespread disruptions if a work stoppage begins this weekend.
The airline has started an “organized take-down” of its network and would begin issuing flight cancellations to customers, WestJet announced in a news release Friday evening.
“To ensure the integrity of WestJet’s network, and to minimize the risk of stranding guests and aircraft, the airline has started to issue cancellations and reduce flying,” the airline said.
As of 11 a.m. MT, WestJet said it had cancelled 86 flights scheduled for Saturday.
The move comes after the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents about 4,400 WestJet flight attendants, issued a 72-hour strike notice. WestJet responded with a 72-hour lockout notice.
The notice period expires Sunday at 12:01 a.m. MT, the earliest a strike or lockout could begin if the two sides fail to reach an agreement.
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The dispute centres largely on compensation for work performed on the ground, including boarding passengers, completing safety checks and managing delays.
Barry Eidlin, a sociology professor and labour expert at McGill University, said WestJet flight attendants are generally paid only while an aircraft is in the air, even though delays have become increasingly common.
“They’ve come to a point now where the flight attendants are basically saying, ‘Enough’s enough, we need to be paid for the hours that we’ve been working,'” Eidlin said.
WestJet said its latest offer was designed to be an “industry-leading” agreement that addressed the union’s key priorities, but negotiations have yet to produce a deal.
John Gradek, lecturer and expert in aviation management at McGill University said the cancellations are a precautionary measure that allow the airline to position aircraft where they can be parked, secured and maintained if a strike begins.
“This is a sign of WestJet being prudent in terms of managing its assets,” Gradek said, adding the disruptions are likely to grow if no agreement is reached. “It is going to be a mess.”
Any customers who are scheduled to fly, can go to WestJet’s website to see flight schedules and changes.
Patty Hadju, Minister of Jobs and Families said “both parties are working hard to renew their collective agreements.”
“With federal mediators and supporting negotiations since May, the parties can and should reach a deal,” her social media post read.
Despite the cancellations, both WestJet and CUPE have said they remain at the bargaining table and are committed to reaching a negotiated agreement before a work stoppage begins.
– With files from The Canadian Press
Wasn’t Carney going to look into this last year during the Air Canada strike. Yet again, nothing was done.
Another Liberal failure in the making?
Just pay workers for unpaid work. Problem solved.
I sure hope they don’t go on strike. I booked a ticket with them to go to a Pride Event in the next few days.
Remember when flight attendants were all attractive and no gays? Most wouldn’t be flight attendants anyways, they should be happy to be able to be hired
Another fail by Carney.
Since they ALL GO ON STRIKE at the same time because the UNION SAYS THEY HAVE TO then maybe management could FIRE THEM ALL at the same time to. Unions NEED TO GO because as you all can see they only financially benefit the people who pay them every month while increasing OUR COST OF LIVING, increasing OUR COST of buying their tickets. To bad we all cannot SUE THE UNIONS for causing all the problems that they cause people every time they ALL WANT MORE MONEY at the same time.
Unfortunately our flight to Paris was canceled for today then they rebooked it for tomorrow with west jet. Which will be on strike. Why did they put us on another flight which will inevitably be cancelled? No idea.
Two kids, 80 year old grandmother all trying to get to Africa, we might be stuck in Calgary indefinitely
My son is going to Japan Sept 1st on a WJ flight .. fingers crossed it is still going to happen!!
Just fire them all and replace them with temporary foreign workers that what Tim Hortons do and it works for them.
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