WestJet flight attendants ratify deal after strike

WestJet flight attendants have overwhelmingly ratified a new collective agreement, with 90.2 per cent voting in favour of the deal that ends months of tense labour negotiations and follows a one-day strike earlier this month that disrupted summer travel for tens of thousands of passengers.cbc+1

The three-year contract, in effect from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2028, covers close to 4,400 cabin crew members represented by CUPE 8125.cupe

What the Deal Includes

The agreement delivers more than 18 per cent in wage increases over three years: a 13 per cent raise this October, followed by 2.75 per cent in January and 2.5 per cent at the start of 2028. It also introduces new compensation for ground work that the union had long argued was unpaid.bnnbloomberg+1

"This is a strong mandate from our members and recognition of the meaningful gains we made at the bargaining table," said Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125. "This is only our second contract, and we made important progress, including making sure our members are compensated for more of the work they already do."cupe

WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech called the agreement one that "modernizes how cabin crew are compensated" and "provides a foundation for WestJet's continued success."bnnbloomberg

A Strike That Forced the Issue

Contract talks had been ongoing since January, with the two sides at odds over wages and the cabin crews' claim of unpaid ground work. WestJet had maintained that all duties were compensated through a "credit hour" system rather than an hourly rate.cbc

Negotiations ultimately broke down over boarding pay, leading to a one-day strike earlier this month that caused more than 900 flight cancellations at the peak of summer travel season. WestJet operates more than 600 flights daily, carrying upwards of 70,000 passengers on some days.bnnbloomberg

Broader Labour Turbulence in Canadian Aviation

The ratification comes amid a period of heightened labour action across Canada's aviation sector. Strikes by Air Canada flight attendants and WestJet mechanics in recent years have briefly halted operations at the country's two largest carriers. Hussain signalled the union intends to keep pushing, saying, "We know there's still more work to do over the life of this agreement and when we bargain again."cbc+2