WestJet starts grounding planes before possible flight attendants strike

WestJet has already begun parking its aircraft ahead of a possible strike by its flight attendants on Sunday.

Because the airline has not yet reached a deal with the union representing its cabin crew, parking the planes “minimizes the risk of stranding guests and aircraft,” the airline said in a news release Friday. Also the move lets WestJet “maintain operational control and protect the integrity of the broader network.”

Flight attendants, represented by CUPE Local 8125, served a 72-hour strike notice Thursday. WestJet issued a lockout notice of its own shortly after, which would let the airline shut down operations rather than wait to be struck. Either notice can take effect at 12:01 a.m. MT Sunday.

At issue is how flight attendants get paid. The union says the current pay structure leaves hours of work uncompensated and wants pay for all time worked, a campaign it calls Unpaid Work Won’t Fly.

“There’s still time to avoid a strike,” Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, said in a news release Thursday. “We will continue to bargain around the clock until this is resolved.”

The local represents 4,400 WestJet flight attendants. Members voted 99.4 per cent in favour of a strike mandate on July 15, on a turnout of 97.3 per cent the union said was its highest ever. That vote gave the bargaining committee the power to call a strike. It was not a commitment to walk out.

Ottawa has already stepped in once. Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu appointed a special mediator on July 15 to join two federal conciliators already at the table. CUPE has asked the government to go no further. Hajdu invoked Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code during last year’s Air Canada flight attendants strike, ordering cabin crew back to work and into binding arbitration.

Passengers booked between July 30 and Aug. 4 can change or cancel once at no extra cost. WestJet said Thursday those whose flights are delayed or cancelled will be refunded or re-accommodated where applicable.

WestJet Encore flights operated on a Q400, a turboprop flown on regional routes, are unaffected by this labour dispute, along with codeshare flights run by partner airlines. The airline did not explain the exemption. CUPE Local 8125 represents cabin crew at both WestJet and Encore but bargains for the two groups separately, under separate contracts, and the strike notice came from the mainline committee.

WestJet said Friday it remains “active at the bargaining table to achieve a mutually agreeable deal at the earliest possible time.”

The National Post has requested a statement from WestJet.

• WestJet flight attendants' union issues 72-hour notice for strike that most Canadians want Ottawa to stay out of
• WestJet flight attendants could walk off the job as early as Sunday. Here's what to know

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