Thousands of Canadian travelers are likely to reconsider their plans for the upcoming August long weekend as WestJet flight attendants have overwhelmingly voted in favor of a strike, with a resounding 99.4% of the union members represented by CUPE Local 8125 supporting the strike. The confirmed yes vote outcomes indicate that approximately 4,400 union members could potentially go on strike on August 2. WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline, may face a complete halt in operations if the strike proceeds as scheduled, just a day before a statutory holiday in many provinces.
In response to the strike vote, WestJet also has the option to lock out flight attendants on the same date, as the federal “cooling off” period will have elapsed by then. Both parties are required to provide a 72-hour notice before any job action, leaving Canadian travelers uncertain about the status of their August flights until the end of the month.
Negotiations between WestJet and the unionized flight attendants for mainline flights have been ongoing since late 2025, after the previous contract with the Canadian Union of Public Employees concluded at the end of last year. WestJet’s CEO, Alexis von Hoensbroech, acknowledged the need for significant improvements in the new deal, attributing the necessity for change partly to the previous contract’s age and the impact of inflation on compensation levels.
Flight attendants at WestJet are raising concerns about their pay structure, highlighting issues similar to those faced by Air Canada flight attendants in the summer of 2025. The union argues that flight attendants are not adequately compensated for all their duties, especially those performed on the ground. Despite WestJet’s defense of its payment model as standard across North America, the union claims that many hours of work go unpaid, pointing to discrepancies in wage calculations that fall below the federal minimum wage.
Both WestJet and Air Canada unions have criticized the payment method, citing inadequacies in accounting for flight delays and unforeseen circumstances that require attendants to stay on duty without flying. While WestJet has conducted a self-audit indicating minimal instances of wage non-compliance, the union maintains that the current system is flawed and does not accurately compensate flight attendants for their work.
WestJet’s CEO expressed willingness to consider changes to the payment system but emphasized that any modifications must be sustainable for the airline. The union remains committed to reaching a fair agreement through negotiations, despite the strike vote. As tensions escalate, both sides continue to bargain with federal conciliators involved in the process.
As the possibility of a strike looms, both WestJet and the union are working to find common ground on various contentious issues, including schedules and wage levels for flight attendants. While uncertainties persist over the outcome of the negotiations, WestJet reassures passengers that efforts are being made to avoid any disruptions in flight operations. The airline views the strike vote as a routine part of negotiations and stresses that it does not guarantee a strike will occur.