WestJet flight attendants have approved a new collective agreement with the airline, with a resounding 90.2% vote in favor of the deal. Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, calling it a significant endorsement of the progress made during negotiations.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees announced that the agreement encompasses an 18% wage increase spread over three years, along with additional compensation for ground duties. The contract stipulates a 13% wage boost in October, followed by increases of 2.75% in January and 2.5% at the beginning of 2028.
This marks the second contract for the flight attendants, with notable advancements in ensuring fair compensation for their work, both in-flight and on the ground. The airline has yet to provide a response to media inquiries regarding the ratified agreement.
Negotiations had been ongoing since January, primarily focusing on wage adjustments and the issue of unpaid ground work. The union had raised concerns about uncompensated tasks performed outside of flight hours, while WestJet maintained that all duties were accounted for under a credit hour system rather than an hourly wage structure.
The newly agreed-upon three-year contract will be effective from January 1, 2026, until December 31, 2028, following intense discussions that included disputes over boarding pay, leading to a brief strike by approximately 4,400 cabin crew earlier in the month.
WestJet’s flight operations gradually resumed after experiencing over 900 flight cancellations during the peak summer travel period. The aviation sector has faced labor unrest in recent years, exemplified by strikes at major airlines like Air Canada and WestJet, disrupting their services temporarily.
On an average day, WestJet conducts over 600 flights, serving more than 70,000 passengers, reflecting the substantial impact of the agreement on the airline’s daily operations.