Canada’s WestJet forced to cancel flights as thousands of flight attendants strike
- Over 4,000 WestJet flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), began a strike on Sunday after failing to reach a new contract agreement with the airline.
- The core of the dispute centers on compensation for flight attendants’ duties performed while aircraft are on the ground, which the union argues is often unpaid.
- As a direct consequence of the strike, WestJet canceled 309 flights by early Sunday, causing significant disruptions for travelers during a holiday weekend in Canada.
- WestJet stated its offer included a double-digit wage increase and an hourly rate for all pre- and post-flight duties, which the union deemed inadequate.
- CUPE expressed its desire for the Canadian government not to intervene in the ongoing bargaining process, hoping to resolve the dispute through continued negotiations.
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