WestJet’s flight attendants have approved a new collective agreement with the airline, with an overwhelming 90.2% vote in favor of the deal. Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, expressed satisfaction with the results, stating that the members had given a strong mandate and acknowledged the significant progress achieved during negotiations.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees announced that the agreement entails an increase in wages of more than 18% over three years, along with the introduction of compensation for ground work. The contract outlines a 13% wage boost in October, followed by increments of 2.75% in January and 2.5% in early 2028.
Following months of discussions starting in January, WestJet and the CUPE WestJet Component resolved disputes over wage raises and the issue of unpaid ground duties for cabin crews. The union had persistently raised concerns about uncompensated work performed while not in the air, contrasting WestJet’s stance that all tasks were accounted for using a “credit hour” system rather than hourly wages.
The newly established three-year agreement will be effective from January 1, 2026, until December 31, 2028. The negotiations were marked by challenges, particularly regarding boarding pay, leading to a brief strike by around 4,400 cabin crew members earlier this month. WestJet’s flight operations gradually resumed normalcy following over 900 flight cancellations during the peak summer travel season.
The aviation sector has faced upheavals due to labor disputes in recent years, with strikes by Air Canada flight attendants and WestJet mechanics causing disruptions in operations at the country’s major airlines. WestJet, which operates over 600 daily flights and serves more than 70,000 passengers on peak days, did not provide immediate comments on the ratified agreement.