westjet flight attendants on strike: hundreds of flights cancelled
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update: westjet has reached an agreement with the union representing more than 4,000 flight attendants and cabin crew to end a strike that disrupted flights over the long weekend. read the story here.
thousands of westjet flight attendants are on strike, with hundreds of flights now cancelled.
on sunday morning, cupe 8125 westjet flight attendants made good on their threat issued thursday to stop working.
“we tried until the very last minute to get a fair deal that recognizes the value of the work cabin crews do,” said alia hussain, cupe 8125 president. “westjet’s offer did not go far enough.”
“we are on strike because we believe we deserve better. we are ready to go back to the table to settle. we hope the federal government will not interfere and will let the bargaining process run its course. unpaid work is a big piece of our priorities, but we are bargaining a comprehensive contract.”
“we would not be here if they had taken our concerns seriously for almost eleven months of bargaining.”
tens of thousands of travellers on westjet flights are now scrambling to find alternative flights. the company had already begun cancelling flights before sunday’s strike action.
eighty flights across canada were cancelled on friday and 118 flights were cancelled saturday. as of sunday, all flights are now cancelled.
all other flights at yvr are operating as scheduled.
westjet will be issuing cancellations directly to passengers, via email or text message. you can also check the status of your flight at westjet.com or the airline’s app.
westjet encore flights operated on q400 aircraft, as well as code-share flights operated by airline partners, are not affected.
yvr is increasing terminal staffing to support affected travellers.
“westjet passengers are advised to check the status of their flight or access information about rebooking before coming to the airport,” a company statement read.
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“westjet passengers should not come to yvr unless they have a confirmed itinerary.”
anyone whose flight has been cancelled is entitled to a refund, unless it is an ultra basic fare, in which case a one-year credit is offered.
federal ndp leader avi lewis said his party supports the workers and asked that the federal government not use section 107 of the canada labour code “to force flight attendants back to work, as it did with air canada workers last year.”
westjet passengers travelling from july 30 to aug. 5, 2026, can make a one-time change or cancellation at no additional cost.
westjet ceo alexis von hoensbroech said the airline was “disappointed” with the outcome and said it remains available to negotiate with cupe 8125, the local which represents approximately 4,400 westjet cabin crew.
“we presented a proposal that would have set a new standard for cabin crew in canada, making westjet the only airline to offer an hourly rate covering all time before and after flights, plus a double-digit wage increase in year one among other priorities the union raised,” von hoensbroech said.
the carrier said it offered a 13 per cent pay increase effective oct. 1 and retroactive to jan. 1, 2026, and 2.5 per cent annual increases through january 2029. per diems would increase by the same amount on the same schedule.
it also proposed a new “duty pay premium — a payment for all duty hours (additional pay for all hours worked designed to solve the union’s claim of unpaid work), equivalent to another 12 per cent of salary increase.”
other details of the proposal include a healthcare spending account of $300 annually, a 17-week maternity leave top-up, a new flexible part-time program, improved scheduling and res provisions, premium pay for certain flight reassignments, reduced maximum duty days on more demanding schedules and compensation for delays in accessing hotel rooms during layovers.
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if you are affected by the strike and would like to share your story, please email vantips@postmedia.com.
with postmedia files
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