WestJet Cancels 407 Flights Amid Mechanics Strike, Impacting 49,000 Passengers
Canada’s second-largest airline, WestJet, announced the cancellation of 407 flights, affecting 49,000 passengers after its maintenance workers union went on strike. The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association stated that its members began striking on Friday evening due to the airline’s “unwillingness to negotiate with the union.”
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WestJet
The unexpected strike, which disrupted both international and domestic flights, followed a ministerial order from the federal government for binding arbitration on Thursday. This order came after two weeks of tumultuous negotiations between the airline and the union over a new deal.
WestJet plans to continue grounding aircraft through Sunday, leading up to the long weekend and Canada Day on Monday. With approximately 200 aircraft in its fleet, the airline expects to operate around 30 planes by Sunday evening.
WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech attributed the crisis to what he described as a “rogue union from the U.S.” attempting to establish a foothold in Canada. Von Hoensbroech stated that once the government mandated the dispute to binding arbitration, further negotiations with the union were no longer feasible.
“This makes a strike totally absurd because the reason you actually do a strike is because you need to exercise pressure on the bargaining table,” von Hoensbroech said. “If there is no bargaining table, it makes no sense; there shouldn’t be a strike.”
He added that the union had rejected a contract offer that would have made WestJet’s mechanics the “best-paid in the country.”
In an update to its members, the union’s negotiating committee referred to an order from the Canada Industrial Relations Board, which does not explicitly prohibit strikes or lockouts during arbitration.
Sean McVeigh, a WestJet aircraft maintenance engineer picketing at Toronto Pearson International Airport’s Terminal 3, emphasized that the strike aims to compel the airline to engage in “respectful negotiation.” McVeigh expressed regret for any inconvenience caused to passengers but stressed that the disruptions were a result of WestJet’s failure to negotiate respectfully.
“We take on a lot of responsibility and we would just like to be appreciated financially,” McVeigh said, alongside about 20 other picketers.
WestJet passengers Samin Sahan and Samee Jan, who were planning a family trip to Calgary, shared their frustrations. Sahan explained that they had received emails rescheduling their flight to Monday, but they went to the terminal anyway, seeking clarification amid the strike-induced chaos.
“This inaction is hurting a lot of people, their own company as well as their customers who will likely no longer be their customers ever again,” Sahan said.
