WestJet has begun cancelling and consolidating flights as the WestJet Group braces for labour action from its aircraft maintenance engineers and other tech ops employees. The cancellations would affect 6,500 passengers.
WestJet states, "This action enables proactive communication with guests and crew to minimize the potential for being stranded and ensures the airline can avoid abandoning aircraft in remote locations."
The decision to cancel flights comes as the airline awaits a response on behalf of the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to intervene under the Canada Labour Code. If accepted, this action would refer WestJet and AMFA to arbitration for a first collective agreement and prevent labour action by either party.
In a statement on 18JUN, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), representing about 670 workers at the Canadian airline, announced, "WestJet is refusing to proceed with negotiations scheduled for June 19 and 20 in Calgary.”
“The airline has filed a submission to force the AMEs to arbitrate the terms of their collective bargaining agreement,” the statement continued. “We are left with only one response. It is time to march, demonstrate, and lobby your elected officials.”
The union served WestJet with legal notice of its intention to strike on Thursday, 20JUN, at 6 p.m. Pacific Time.
"We are immensely disheartened that we are in a position where we must activate our contingency plan and begin parking aircraft, as a result of the strike notice served by AMFA. We deeply regret the disruption this will have on the travel plans of our guests, communities and businesses that rely on our critical air service," said Diederik Pen, President of WestJet Airlines and Group Chief Operating Officer. "Following the memberships' nearly unanimous decision to reject a generous tentative agreement that would have made our Aircraft Maintenance Engineers the highest paid in the country, with a take-home pay increase of 30 to 40 per cent in the first year of the proposed agreement, it is clear that the bargaining process has broken down."
Total cancellation summary
Tuesday, 18JUN – Wednesday, 19JUN:
- ~40 cancellations
"We will continue to manage our operations to the highest degree of safety and will never compromise in this area," said Pen.
Pax travelling on WestJet are advised to check the status of their flight before leaving for the airport.
More information on WestJet's Guest Updates page
