The wait is over for many WestJet travelers who were uncertain of their travel plans heading into the first week of August. Over the weekend, 4,287 WestJet flight attendants walked out when the union and airline were unable to reach a new contract deal.
As the strike began on Sunday, those with booked flights faced hundreds of cancellations, with more pending before the deal deadline.
WestJet Shares Offer Amid Strike
Following 11 months of contract negotiations, flight attendants represented by CUPE Local 8215 left their jobs with no definitive answers. As a deal hung in the air, travelers at major airports across Canada—including Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary—sat in limbo while their travel fate remained unclear.
“We know this disruption has been frustrating for our guests and WestJetters, and we’re sorry for that. Our teams are working hard to restore service and get our guests on their way to their destinations as quickly as possible, and we appreciate everyone’s patience as we get back to normal,” said Alexis von Hoensbroech, the company’s chief executive officer, in the press release.
The most prominent issue addressed by flight attendants was ground pay. Many demanded compensation during essential lift-off and landing duties, including safety briefs and boarding. As these requests were left in the hands of the airline, at least 600 flights were canceled, with more anticipated to be canceled heading into Monday morning.
As a result, 250,000 travelers thus far have been stranded with no flights in or out with WestJet. As of August 2nd, 496, or 100%, of all flights were canceled, with another 301, or 60%, of flights canceled today, August 3rd.
With a deadline of August 6th, WestJet got to work and has made its offer public, starting with wage increases by interval:
- Effective October 1, 2026 -13.0% increase
- Effective January 1, 2027 – 2.5% increase
- Effective January 1, 2028 – 2.5% increase
- Effective January 1, 2029 – 2.5% increase
Additionally, WestJet is addressing other significant concerns raised by flight attendants, including vacation time and maternity leave.
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WestJet’s Proposed Offer |
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Retroactive wage payment to January 1, 2026. |
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NEW Duty pay premium – a payment for all duty hours (additional pay for all hours worked designed to solve the union’s claim of unpaid work), equivalent to another 12% salary increase. |
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Healthcare Spending Account: $300 in health spending per year. |
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Significant increase in per diem (meal allowance) rates: increase of 13% in 2026, and 2.5% every year thereafter. |
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Fifth week of vacation at 25 years of service. |
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Maternity leave top-up to 17 weeks postpartum. |
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New flexible part-time program (reduced block). |
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Significant scheduling and quality-of-life improvements: one additional hour of rest at home base; an increase to minimum rest away from base of one hour; out-of-base partial shift trades. |
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Premium payment when reassigned to an uncovered flight in a base. |
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Reduced duty day maximum when working three legs or more. |
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Payment when crew is faced with a delay accessing a hotel room on a layover. |
While the rest of the world had its eyes on Canada, Monday morning brought better news than most expected.
The tentative deal reached early Monday morning isn’t only good news for travelers. It’s also a significant step for WestJet’s flight attendants, whose strike proved effective.
“This tentative agreement represents meaningful progress. The draft deal recognizes more of the work cabin crew are required to perform and with general increases to compensation for that work,” said Alia Hussain, president of CUPE local 8125, in the press release. She added, “Most importantly, this agreement was achieved through collective bargaining at the negotiating table.”
In the meantime, WestJet has been allowing passengers traveling between July 30th and August 4th to make a one-time change or cancellation with no fees in anticipation of the strike. Had it continued past the 24-hour-mark, another 70,000 passengers would potentially be at risk of a canceled flight, pushing back another 600 flights per day for the airline.
As Canada’s second-largest carrier, the strike caused a ripple effect on the flight schedule. Adding to this was the fact that August 1st marks a long holiday weekend, when airports typically see more travelers.
Recovery from the strike is expected to take up to several days as the entire flight network is restored and displaced cabin crews are repositioned.
While the offer has been proposed to temporarily end the strike, it must still be formally accepted by the flight attendants of CUPE Local 8215. However, for some, this strike was not a surprise — only an anticipated outcome. John Gradek, a faculty lecturer in aviation management at McGill University, told CBC News that “It’s about time.”
From here, WestJet’s offer will head to the WestJet Cabin Crew for a formal vote. Once it has been ratified, services will resume in full, with the tentative strike status lifted.
