Flight attendants at WestJet have voted to ratify a tentative labor agreement that includes a wage increase exceeding 18% over three years, ending a period of industrial action that disrupted operations earlier this month. The deal was approved following a strike vote that resulted in hundreds of flight cancellations across the carrier’s network.
The agreement, negotiated by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), introduces a duty pay premium for cabin crew, compensating time previously unpaid during ground operations. This shift moves compensation structures away from traditional pay models based solely on flying hours toward a broader calculation of total work hours, including check-in and other pre-flight duties. CUPE had sought full compensation for the entire duration of work shifts, from check-in to clock-out.
The tentative deal follows a brief strike by WestJet flight attendants that grounded flights and prompted comparisons with labor actions at other major North American carriers. Air Canada, American Airlines, Alaska Air, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines have all introduced forms of pay for boarding or designated ground time in recent labor agreements. The WestJet agreement covers approximately 4,400 flight attendants represented by CUPE.
WestJet has not provided an immediate comment on the agreement’s financial impact or operational timeline for implementation.
