WestJet flight attendants begin voting on tentative agreement

WestJet’s mainline flight attendants will begin voting Monday (Aug. 17) on the tentative agreement reached earlier this month between the airline and the union representing its cabin crew.

The ratification vote opens at 2 p.m. MT on Aug. 17 and will remain open for one week, closing Monday, Aug. 24 at 2 p.m. MT.

As shared the union’s Facebook page, the WestJet Mainline Bargaining Committee has unanimously recommended that members vote in favour of ratifying the agreement.

The vote follows a brief but disruptive labour dispute earlier this month involving roughly 4,400 WestJet flight attendants represented by CUPE Local 8125.

Flight attendants began strike action on Aug. 2 after the union issued a 72-hour strike notice and WestJet responded with a lockout notice.

The airline subsequently suspended much of its Boeing 737 and 787 flying as it worked to wind down operations.

READ MORE: Strike over, but will WestJet's deal hold?

A tentative agreement was reached early Aug. 3, ending the disruption and allowing WestJet to begin restoring its network.

According to information previously released by the union, the proposed three-year agreement includes wage increases of more than 18 per cent, along with a new Duty Period Premium addressing ground duty.

Other proposed improvements include increased time off, enhanced allowances, greater flexibility for shift trades, increased rest, reduced maximum flight segments, stronger reserve protections and improvements to sick leave banking.

The tentative agreement must now be approved by WestJet’s mainline flight attendants through the ratification process.

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