WestJet flight attendants have issued a 72-hour strike notice, potentially disrupting travel during the upcoming August long weekend. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) represents approximately 4,400 cabin crew members at WestJet. The union's primary concern is the compensation for ground duties, which they argue are currently unpaid. WestJet contends that these tasks are compensated through a "credit hour" system rather than hourly pay.
The strike notice comes after months of negotiations between CUPE and WestJet, with little progress on key issues. The union claims that flight attendants perform an average of 35 hours of unpaid ground work each month. This situation mirrors a similar dispute at Air Canada, where flight attendants secured compensation for ground work after a three-day strike last year.
If the strike proceeds, it could affect tens of thousands of travelers, as WestJet operates over 600 flights daily, carrying approximately 75,000 passengers. However, regional WestJet Encore and Delta-operated code-share flights would not be impacted.
Both parties are continuing negotiations in hopes of reaching an agreement before the strike date. Travelers are advised to monitor updates from WestJet and CUPE for the latest information on flight statuses and potential disruptions.