WestJet employees have decided to halt their job action, but travelers with bookings through the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) are being cautioned that their flights could still face disruptions. Following the cancellation of several hundred flights, WestJet and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) reached a tentative agreement in their contract dispute early on Monday.
YVR stated that it will take some time for WestJet’s operations to return to normal. On Monday, 21 WestJet flights are set to depart from Vancouver, while 49 others remain canceled. WestJet Encore flights were not impacted by the labor unrest.
Flight attendants at WestJet had gone on strike on Sunday, seeking compensation for hours spent off-duty but still assisting passengers or waiting for delayed flights. Some passengers, like Tran Thai from Edmonton, had to navigate the consequences of the disruptions on Monday, with Thai having to endure a lengthy layover in Victoria before catching a flight home.
The details of the tentative agreement between WestJet and CUPE have not been disclosed yet. The deal is subject to ratification by CUPE members before it becomes effective.