WestJet FA tentative deal includes 18% wage increase, new ground-duty pay

The union representing WestJet flight attendants has released details of the tentative collective agreement reached with the airline following last weekend's one-day strike.

According to the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the proposed three-year agreement includes wage increases of more than 18 per cent, along with a new "duty period premium" that compensates cabin crew for work performed on the ground, reports the Canadian Press.

The tentative deal also provides additional time off, increased meal allowances and higher uniform allowances, among other improvements.

The agreement was reached early Monday (Aug. 3), bringing an end to a labour dispute that disrupted travel over the long holiday weekend.

WestJet grounded flights across much of Canada as approximately 4,400 flight attendants walked off the job early Sunday (Aug. 2) after contract negotiations failed to produce an agreement before the strike deadline.

READ MORE: "Working around the clock": Travel advisors navigate chaos as WestJet strike grounds flights

Following the tentative agreement, WestJet gradually resumed normal operations, with Wednesday (Aug. 5) marking the first day without any strike-related cancellations, according to Cirium.

The agreement must be ratified within 30 days. During that period, WestJet says there can be no strike or lockout, giving customers confidence to book and travel while the voting process unfolds.

“Meaningful progress”

In a statement Monday, CUPE 8125 President Alia Hussain said the tentative agreement represents “meaningful progress.”

“It evolves the flight credit system by recognizing more of the work cabin crew are required to perform and with general increases to compensation for that work,” said Hussain in a statement.

READ MORE: WestJet mainline enters first day without strike-related cancellations: Cirium

The dispute centred on the airline industry's long-standing "flight credit system," under which flight attendants are primarily paid for time spent in the air, with additional compensation for certain ground duties.

Unions have increasingly argued that the model leaves cabin crews performing dozens of unpaid hours every month, advocating instead for compensation from check-in until the end of their shift.

The issue has become a broader industry flashpoint. Earlier this year, an arbitrator finalized an agreement ending the labour dispute involving Air Canada flight attendants that included compensation for groundwork hours.

(At the time, CUPE, which also represents Air Canada's flight attendants, expressed disappointment with the outcome).

For WestJet, ratification would close the chapter on a costly disruption that saw hundreds of flights cancelled and millions of dollars lost as the airline executed an organized shutdown of much of its network.

"We know this disruption has been frustrating for our guests and WestJetters and we're sorry for that,” said Alexis von Hoensbroech, CEO of the WestJet Group, in a statement Monday.

Ottawa, notably, did not intervene in the dispute (as it did with Air Canada last summer), but said it was closely monitoring the negotiations.

“The federal government and Canadians welcome the news that the parties have reached a deal together, at the bargaining table,” wrote Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu in a post on X.

Travel turmoil

The labour disruption resulted in WestJet cancelling a total of 925 mainline flights out of 2,837 scheduled, representing 32.6 per cent of its network over a six-day period, Cirium reports.

Over the long weekend, as WestJet and CUPE negotiated a new deal in Calgary, Canadians raced to rebook flights and salvage travel plans during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.

The bulk of cancellations occurred during the work stoppage, with 110 flights cancelled on Aug. 1, 494 flights on Aug. 2, and 305 flights on Aug. 3.

Some travellers were left hundreds – or even thousands – of dollars out of pocket, while family visits and long-planned vacations were thrown into uncertainty as they searched for answers from the airline, according to reports.

Other WestJet passengers were stranded in destinations as far afield as Iceland and Scotland as they searched for a way home.

WestJet said passengers impacted by the strike will be refunded or reaccommodated "as applicable."

At the same time, as PAX reported, Canadian travel advisors worked around the clock for their clients, rebooking itineraries, monitoring flight schedules and waiting on hold — much of it unpaid.

The WestJet Group has confirmed with PAX that it is protecting travel advisor commissions on packages and flights cancelled by the company.

The policy, however, is subject to terms and conditions, as well as applicable fare rules.

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