WestJet flight attendants vote in favour of strike

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — WestJet flight attendants represented by CUPE 8125 have voted in favour of a strike mandate. 

A strike for WestJet flight attendants is set to begin as early as Aug. 2, as flight attendants participated in a vote in favour of strike action. 

According to CUPE 8125, on July 15, 97 per cent of members took part in the vote, with 99 per cent voting in favour of strike authorization. 

On July 15, the North Peace Regional Airport told Energeticcity.ca that it had no information to provide on any potential delays or cancellations related to the strike. 

On July 9, the union representing 4,400 WestJet flight attendants opened a strike vote seeking a strong mandate from members to support the union’s position at the bargaining table. 

CUPE 8125 president Alia Hussain said the union’s goal remains to reach a “fair, negotiated, collective agreement.”

The union said it continues to negotiate issues such as wages, compensation and scheduling. 

“The members of CUPE 8125 are united and determined,” Hussain said. “They voted to strike because they stand behind the bargaining priorities that they have identified, especially pay for all hours of work performed.”

“WestJet should do the right thing and prevent travel disruptions for their passengers,” Hussain added. 

In a statement, WestJet Group Chief Executive Officer Alexis Von Hoensbroech said a strike authorization vote is a “common” step by unions in the overall labour negotiation process and does not mean a strike will take place. 

CUPE National president Mark Hancock issued a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney and Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu, urging the government to respect the bargaining process between WestJet and flight attendants. 

“On behalf of the 800,000 members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, I am writing to urge your government to respect the collective bargaining process in the ongoing negotiations between WestJet and its flight attendants,” the letter continued. 

Hancock said the federal government’s past interference in an Air Canada labour dispute undermined collective bargaining and sent a “troubling message” that employers need to wait for government intervention rather than bargain in good faith. 

“Government intervention that prevents workers from exercising their lawful right to strike only undermines free collective bargaining and rewards employers who refuse to bargain in good faith,” he said. 

Hancock said the union “demands” the government refrain from any action not agreed to by both WestJet and its flight attendants, including the invoking of section 107 of the Canadian Labour Code with a “view to denying WestJet flight attendants their lawful right to strike.”