WestJet load controllers ratify agreement with airline

The WestJet Group on Thursday (May 30) announced that its load controllers, represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), ratified the first collective bargaining agreement between the two parties.

"We are pleased to share that the agreement negotiated with IAM has been successfully ratified by its membership," said Diederik Pen, president of WestJet Airlines and group chief operating Officer, in a statement. "This outcome reflects our deep appreciation for our Load Controllers and is the result of great collaboration with IAM that achieved meaningful results for our employees, our airline and our guests."

The agreement will come into effect July 1, 2024 and will be in place until December 31, 2028. 

Resolution solutions

It's the second resolution reached at WestJet in recent weeks. Earlier, a work stoppage was averted after WestJet and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), the union that represents WestJet aircraft maintenance engineers, announced a tentative agreement on the first collective bargaining agreement between the organizations.

Now, pilots at WestJet Encore, a regional airline that operates feeder flights for WestJet, are on deck, issuing a 72-hour strike notice on Wednesday (May 29), triggering a countdown that could lead to job action as soon as June 1 if a deal isn’t reached.

WestJet, in response, has issued an advance lockout notification, noting that it has started to reduce WestJet Encore's schedule in preparation of a potential disruption. 

Visit WestJet’s Guest Updates page for more info regarding flight status, travel changes and applicable dates for flexible change and cancel options.

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