WestJet and flight attendants’ union sign wind-down plan ahead of possible strike

WestJet and the union representing some 4,400 flight attendants have agreed to an “operational wind-down” plan should a strike go ahead as soon as this Sunday.

With the clock ticking down, the two sides this week inked an agreement — shared with union members Tuesday and obtained by The Canadian Press — that lays out how to ground planes and get cabin crew back home in the event of a work stoppage.

Cabin crew working a flight when any job action kicks off would complete the trip to its destination. Those who can’t immediately return to their home city would receive hotel accommodation for up to a week or a plane ride back to another Canadian city, “subject to seat availability,” according to the deal.

The document underscores the looming possibility of a labour disruption, and comes after cabin crew at the Calgary-based airline voted 99 per cent in favour of a strike mandate in mid-July. Since then, bargaining teams in that city have conducted intense negotiations in hotel conference rooms on a new contract as a mandatory cooling-off period draws to a close.

Unless a deal is reached, some flights could start to be grounded by Friday. Past airline labour standoffs have prompted a ramp-up in flight cancellations a couple of days before a strike, which must be preceded by a 72-hour warning from the union.

WestJet says passengers with flights scheduled any time between July 30 and Aug. 4 can make a one-time change or cancel it with no fee.

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.

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 10,000 flight attendants at Air Canada. Thousands of passengers saw their travel disrupted.

The Carney government intervened and used a powerful part of Canada’s labour code, Section 107, to refer the dispute to the Canada Industrial Relations Board. The union fought back before negotiations resumed and an arbitrator was ultimately brought in.

CityNews asked federal jobs minister Patty Hajdu’s office if the government considered invoking a similar move in this situation. A spokesperson said in a statement they’re encouraging both parties to keep talking, but didn’t directly address the question.

“Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service mediators have been working with both parties since May. On July 15, the federal government has also assigned a special mediator to assist CUPE and WestJet in their negotiations and expect them to continue their efforts to reach a deal as soon as possible,” the statement said.

“The federal government will always maintain that the strongest deals happen at the table. Canadians are relying on WestJet and CUPE to reach a deal.”

WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech has pointed out that strike authorization is a typical step during negotiations “and does not mean a strike will occur.”

Under airlines’ credit-based pay structure — common across the continent — flight attendants receive income that seeks to compensate time spent both in the skies and on the ground.

“Rather than paying a lower hourly wage for every hour on duty, the credit hour system combines flight time, ground duties, delays and other required work into a single, higher rate of pay,” WestJet’s website stated.

An updated statement issued by WestJet to CityNews said the company is “actively engaged in negotiations and is fully prepared to make meaningful improvements that work for cabin crew members while balancing the future sustainability of WestJet.” A representative wasn’t immediately available for an interview.

CityNews spoke with Alia Hussain, a longtime flight attendant and president of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 8125 — the union representing WestJet flight attendants, during a break from contract negotiations Wednesday afternoon.

She said she was feeling optimistic and that proposals were being exchanged between the union and the company, but said 11 months of contract talks — especially involving concerns surrounding unpaid work and lower wages compared to competitors — have impacted workers.

“I’m hopeful that WestJet is going to be the company that I know today and that is an organization that almost always spearheaded creative solutions to old archaic problems, and I’m hopeful that that version of WestJet shows up and takes care of its people,” she said.

“This is likely one of the hardest things my membership has ever gone through, and it’s also historic for us. WestJet flight attendants had never taken strike votes.

“My membership is definitely frustrated. They’re at rock bottom. A lot of my members work multiple jobs. They’re exhausted, and this is not sustainable.”

Hussain also had a message for passengers, saying they want to try to find a deal and keep working.

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 — said John Gradek, who teaches aviation management at McGill University.

“WestJet can’t afford a complete shutdown during their peak summer travel period,” he said.

The airline operates more than 600 flights per day carrying legions of passengers — more than 70,000 on some days, according to the company.

Steven Tufts, an associate professor with York University who focuses on unions and labour issues, told CityNews the issue of unpaid work has been going on for decades.

“It was established at a time before flight attendants were unionized when they didn’t have much power and it’s a way for the airlines to guarantee cost per flight,” he said.

“They assign a number per flight, for each flight the flight attendant will be compensated, and it doesn’t matter if it’s two hours late, four hours late, five hours late; that cost stays the same.”

CUPE has been ratcheting up a public relations campaign in recent weeks, launching a “day of action” with rallies across the country on July 14.

At the Calgary rally, some 250 WestJet flight attendants stood side by side in front of the airline’s headquarters to send a message to management. Appearing in uniform, they held signs reading, “Ready to Strike,” “Unpaid work won’t fly” and “Frustrated with WestJet? So are we.”

Ads arguing the cabin crews’ case have popped up on platforms ranging from podcasts to TikTok content creator videos.

Customers whose flights are called off ahead of the potential strike or during it have the right to rebook free of charge on any airline — not just WestJet — says Air Passenger Rights president Gabor Lukacs.

For flight cancellations before a job action, the airline also owes customers up to $1,000 in cash for the inconvenience, he said. For cancellations during a strike, refunds are an option instead of rebooking.

Whether a strike goes ahead may hinge largely on where the two bargaining teams land on ground pay as well as wage rates more broadly. So-called boarding pay remains a major point of contention after Air Canada flight attendants in February secured compensation for ground work that will climb to 70 per cent of their hourly rate for the hour before takeoff.

Tufts said he’ll be watching to see what comes of the WestJet deal as any decision will continue to ripple through Canada’s aviation sector. He also will be watching if Section 107 is used by the government, a move he called “completely unfair” because “it gives leverage to the employer.”