Flight attendants at WestJet have voted to accept a tentative labor agreement, ending a brief but disruptive strike that forced the Canadian carrier to cancel hundreds of flights earlier in August.
The deal, announced on August 3, was ratified by members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) on Monday. CUPE represents approximately 4,400 WestJet flight attendants, whose approval clears the way for normal operations to resume.
Under the agreement, wages will increase by more than 18% over a three-year period. The structure shifts compensation away from flying time alone, introducing a duty pay premium to cover previously unpaid ground duties from check-in to clock-out. This concession aligns with recent labor settlements at other major carriers, including Air Canada, American Airlines, Alaska Air, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, which have adopted similar measures to address boarding and ground-time compensation.
WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline and majority-owned by Onex Corp, had faced operational disruptions as cabin crew staged a short strike following the breakdown of earlier negotiations. The tentative deal now averts further industrial action and restores scheduling stability for the carrier and its passengers.
The agreement’s ratification follows a month of heightened labor activity in the North American aviation sector, as airlines navigate competitive labor markets and rising operational costs.
