WestJet Announces Flight Schedules Are Now ‘Stabilized’ Following Long Weekend Strike.

July 4, 2024 TruthUSA

WestJet states that its operations have “stabilized” following a strike by its unionized airline mechanics over the Canada Day weekend that disrupted the plans of many travelers.

The airline, based in Calgary, anticipates “minimal” cancellations due to the strike, with eight scheduled for July 4 and none expected on July 5 so far.

Even though things have returned to normal, the airline is still advising customers to confirm their flights.

WestJet was
forced to ground
130 of the airline’s 180 planes during a three-day strike by its mechanics, resulting in the cancellation of 1,171 flights since June 27.

The strike, which started on June 28 and ended late on June 30, disrupted flights for tens of thousands of travelers over the holiday weekend. The company had to ground 292 flights on Canada Day alone.

Flight disruptions persisted for several days even after the strike ended as WestJet worked to transport hundreds of crew members to the airports where its planes were grounded.

Only the five largest airports—Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Vancouver, and Winnipeg—had crew bases for WestJet planes. Pilots and flight attendants had to travel to the remaining eight airfields to get those planes back in the air, causing delays for days.

“We are grateful to be recovering our operation,” stated WestJet Airlines president and Group Chief Operating Officer Diederik Pen in a
press release
at the time. “We fully recognize the continued impact on our guests and sincerely appreciate their patience and understanding.”

The 680 workers who went on strike last week were instructed by The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) to return to work after a tentative agreement was reached late on June 30, as per a
press release
.

The strike occurred despite the directive from federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan on June 28 to the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to impose binding arbitration on the parties.

Binding arbitration entails a hearing before a neutral arbitrator who considers submissions from both sides before reaching a legally binding decision.

The board allowed the strike to continue despite Mr. O’Regan’s request.

Workers still need to vote on the tentative agreement, which the union has
stated
grants the mechanics an immediate 15.5 percent pay raise, followed by a 3.25 percent increase in 2025 and a 2.5 percent increase each year for the final three years of the five-year contract. Additional benefits and increased overtime rates were also part of the agreement.

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