Taking matters of pay and contract negotiations into their own hands, 4,287 flight attendants at Canada’s WestJet Airlines went on strike this weekend, but a report from CBC suggests that the two may now have reached a tentative deal. As of Sunday, WestJet was forced to cancel 600 flights as a result of this strike, leaving thousands of travellers scrambling to find alternatives on one of the busiest travel weekends in the region.
Led by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the union strike at WestJet disrupted operations over a three-day weekend, ensuring that the impact of the strike could be felt by the employer.
The union had provided WestJet with 72 hours’ notice of its intention to strike if the negotiations failed to yield an acceptable contract offer, but both sides were unable to come to an agreement. Aviation rival Air Canada recently faced similar resistance from its own flight attendants, and union efforts have been seen this year in the US as well, with cabin crew demanding better working conditions and compensation for their efforts, particularly in terms of pay for before and after takeoff.
Such union efforts within the industry suggest that a large number of workers in the industry are unsatisfied with the current mode of operations, demanding that changes be made to how their roles are managed and conducted today.
The WestJet flight attendant strike is reportedly set to end as reports emerge regarding a new tentative wage deal. The details are limited for now. (Image: Freepik)
WestJet Flight Attendants Go On Strike as Demands for Better Pay Practices Emerge Within the Airlines Industry
The CUPE strike against WestJet primarily stemmed from disagreements over compensation for duties performed by the flight attendants on the ground. While the union believed that much of that labor went unpaid, the company indicated that some form of compensation was provided. The airlines also indicated that their last proposal to the WestJet union included an hourly rate compensation for before and after flights, along with a double-digit wage increase in year one.
To be precise, AP News states that the previous proposal came with a 13% wage increase in October, a 2.5% increase every January for the next 3 years, retroactive wage payment to last January, plus additional pay for all hours worked. The offer also came with improvements to meal, vacation, and maternity benefits. It is unclear why this offer was rejected by the union, but members remained unsatisfied with the terms.
The Strike Many Have Disrupted Flights, but CUPE Data Shows Canadians see the Union Priorities as reasonable
While the WestJet flight attendants’ strike has disrupted operations, leaving thousands of travelers stranded and off schedule, the union previously noted that Canadians were overwhelmingly in support of their fight for fair wages. An Abacus Data survey commissioned by the union found that 64% of Canadians were standing by the flight attendants, with 84% in agreement that they should be paid for all work-related duties.
About 83% of surveyed respondents supported the WestJet flight attendants’ right to strike. This data may not be fully representative of the entire Canadian population, particularly those who may have struggled over the weekend; however, it does suggest that many see reason in these union strikes and the fight for better wages and compensation for all work performed.
A Tentative Deal Is Making Its Way to the Unionized Flight Attendants
An extended strike may not be necessary as WestJet and the Canadian Union of Public Employees appear to have reached a tentative deal that will be provided to union members for ratification. If approved, a swift return to operation as usual could be on the cards within the week, but a fixed timeline isn’t currently available.
The exact details of the tentative deal have not been shared by the parties, but as per the latest update from CBC News, the deal includes improvements to the existing flight credit system “by introducing a duty period premium that recognizes more of the work cabin crew are required to perform,” and the resulting compensation for it.
More WestJet strike updates could be available in the coming days as the members vote on the contract, but it appears that the strike could soon come to an end. Avoiding a prolonged strike is often the best outcome an organization and its employees can hope for, if avoiding it altogether isn’t an option for the message and conviction to be conveyed.
Support for the CUPE strike and the growing incidents of union resistance indicate that, despite rising uncertainties over employment, workers are willing to push for fair treatment in the workplace. Addressing their requests and seeking a compromise between both parties can ensure matters don’t escalate to the point of a strike or even passive resistance internally.
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