WestJet flight attendants “steps away” from strike position as negotiations stall

Around 4,400 flight attendants at WestJet are urging the Calgary-based airline to return to negotiations after months of unsuccessful talks, according to a press notice that was circulated Monday (April 27).

In the release, CUPE 8125 — the union representing the airline’s mainline cabin crew —announced that it has filed a formal Notice of Dispute.

The union said both sides had been meeting several times each month in an effort to reach a new collective agreement, but no meaningful progress has been made.

Union spokesperson Erin Rolfson added that since September 2025, representatives have been meeting with WestJet as often as four times a week, for three weeks each month, CityNews Calgary reports.

“This job used to be well-compensated relative to its responsibilities,” Rolfson told the news outlet in an email.

“Over time, that has changed, and the current system no longer reflects the fair value of the work being done. Schedules have become increasingly demanding. Reliable rest conditions, including confirmed hotel accommodations, are essential to perform the job safely.”

Rolfson noted that flight attendants are “multiple steps away from any strike position.”

“Our focus is on securing a fair and sustainable agreement that reflects the realities of the job and the value of the work being done every day,” she said.

Tackling an "outdated system"

At the centre of the dispute is a growing gap between the work flight attendants are required to perform and the “outdated system that determines how that work is compensated,” CUPE says.

Flight attendants are responsible for passenger safety from the moment they report for duty, yet significant portions of that time are not fully compensated under the current system.

On average, flight attendants work 35 hours every month unpaid, CUPE says.

“Flight attendants are performing increasingly demanding work in a safety-sensitive environment, and we are some of the lowest paid in Canada,” said Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, in a statement. “The system that governs our compensation was built for a different time, and it no longer reflects the value of work being done today.”

The union is also seeking improvements to scheduling and basic working conditions that support a safe and sustainable operation.

“Flight attendants have remained patient and professional throughout this process, but delays cannot continue,” Hussain added. “We are looking for meaningful progress at the table on issues that affect our members and their ability to provide reliable service for our guests.”

CUPE 8125 emphasized that its goal is to achieve a negotiated agreement and minimize any impact on travellers.

“We understand how important travel is, particularly as we approach the busy summer season,” said Hussain. “Our focus is on securing a fair and sustainable agreement that reflects the realities of the job and the value of the work being done every day.”

Air Canada FAs stand in solidarity

The demands echo those raised by flight attendants at Air Canada last summer, when more than 10,000 workers walked off the job.

At the heart of that dispute was compensation for “ground time”—work carried out during boarding and deplaning.

Other key issues included calls for full pay for all ground duties, as well as stronger wage increases to keep pace with inflation.

The Air Canada Component of CUPE posted a statement to its Facebook page on Monday, saying that it stands in solidarity with WestJet's flight attendants "as they pursue a fair agreement after months of stalled negotiations." 

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