WestJet flight attendant union strike plans moved closer on Friday evening, when WestJet began cancelling flights ahead of a possible strike or lockout affecting about 4,400 flight attendants. As of 11 a.m. MT, the airline had cancelled 86 flights scheduled for Saturday.
WestJet said it was reducing its schedule to avoid widespread disruptions if a work stoppage begins this weekend. In a Friday evening news release, the airline said: "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".
Barry Eidlin on ground pay
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. He also said delays have become increasingly common. The dispute centres largely on compensation for work performed on the ground, including boarding passengers, completing safety checks and managing delays.
Canadian Union of Public Employees notice
The Canadian Union of Public Employees issued a 72-hour strike notice, and WestJet responded with a 72-hour lockout notice. That notice period expires Sunday at 12:01 a.m. MT, which is the earliest a strike or lockout could begin if the two sides do not reach an agreement.
For passengers on Saturday flights, the immediate change is the cancellations already in motion. For the airline, the unusual step is to cut service before any work stoppage has started, a move meant to limit bigger disruption later while creating disruption now.
WestJet network reduction
WestJet said the organized take-down of its network started Friday evening, with cancellations going out to customers through the night and into Saturday. Whether WestJet and the Canadian Union of Public Employees reach an agreement before the Sunday deadline is the only question that still determines whether the cancellations stay limited to Saturday or become the start of a wider stoppage.
