WestJet flight attendants have approved a new collective agreement with the airline, with a strong 90.2% vote in favor of the deal. Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that the members’ overwhelming support reflects the significant progress achieved during negotiations.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees highlighted key aspects of the agreement, such as an increase in wages exceeding 18% over a three-year period and the introduction of compensation for ground-related tasks. Employees are set to receive a 13% raise in October, followed by incremental raises of 2.75% in January and 2.5% at the beginning of 2028.
The discussions, which commenced in January, involved contentious issues surrounding wage adjustments and the handling of unpaid ground duties by cabin crews. The union had persistently raised concerns about uncompensated work performed while not airborne, whereas WestJet contended that all tasks were adequately accounted for through a credit hour system rather than hourly wages.
The new three-year agreement will be effective from January 1, 2026, until December 31, 2028. The resolution of the negotiations, marked by intense deliberations, notably concerning boarding remuneration, followed a brief strike by approximately 4,400 cabin crew members earlier in the month.
In response to the strike, WestJet gradually resumed its flight operations after experiencing over 900 cancellations during the peak summer travel season. The aviation sector has witnessed a series of labor disputes in recent years, with work stoppages by Air Canada flight attendants and WestJet mechanics causing temporary disruptions at the country’s major airlines.
WestJet, known for operating more than 600 daily flights and accommodating over 70,000 passengers on certain days, had faced challenges due to the labor actions within the industry.
