Westjet flight attendant labor dispute moved into a formal dispute process Monday after CUPE 8125, which represents about 4,400 WestJet cabin personnel, said seven months of bargaining had not produced enough progress. The union said it filed the notice after repeated meetings with WestJet failed to settle key issues.
Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, said flight attendants are doing “increasingly demanding work in a safety-sensitive environment” while remaining “some of the lowest paid in Canada.” The union says the dispute centers on unpaid work and an outdated compensation system, with flight attendants averaging 35 hours each month unpaid.
CUPE 8125 and WestJet
CUPE 8125 said the union and WestJet met multiple times each month after the notice to bargain was served last September. Erin Rolfson, a CUPE spokesperson, said the group met four times per week for three weeks a month since September 2025, and said the union is “steps away from any strike position.”
Rolfson said, “This job used to be well-compensated relative to its responsibilities,” and added: “Over time, that has changed, and the current system no longer reflects the fair value of the work being done. Schedules have become increasingly demanding. Reliable rest conditions, including confirmed hotel accommodations, are essential to perform the job safely.”
Canada Industrial Relations Board
The Canada Industrial Relations Board says 21 days must pass after a notice of dispute, or after a conciliator’s mandate ends if one is assigned, before a strike can be called. CUPE 8125 must also win a strike vote from its members, and any strike mandate would last 60 days. The union must then give WestJet 72 hours’ notice before walking out.
CUPE 8125 said its aim remains a fair and sustainable agreement that reflects the realities of the job and the value of the work being done every day. For travelers, the notice does not end the talks, but it does move the dispute into the legal steps that can lead to a strike if no agreement is reached.
