WestJet’s flight attendants have approved a new collective agreement with an overwhelming 90.2 percent vote in favor. Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, calling it a strong mandate from the members and acknowledging the significant progress made during negotiations.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees disclosed that the agreement entails an 18 percent wage increase spread over three years, along with additional compensation for ground work. The contract stipulates a 13 percent salary boost in October, followed by 2.75 percent in January and another 2.5 percent at the beginning of 2028.
This marks the airline’s second contract with positive advancements, addressing concerns such as fair compensation for the work performed by the members. Talks had been ongoing since January, focusing on wage adjustments and disputes related to unpaid ground duties claimed by cabin crews.
The new three-year agreement will be effective from January 1, 2026, until December 31, 2028. The negotiations faced challenges, particularly regarding boarding pay, leading to a brief strike by approximately 4,400 cabin crew members earlier in the month. Following the strike, WestJet gradually resumed its flight operations after experiencing over 900 cancellations during the peak summer travel period.
Labor actions have disrupted the aviation industry in recent years, with strikes by Air Canada flight attendants and WestJet mechanics causing temporary halts in operations. WestJet, which operates more than 600 flights daily and serves over 70,000 passengers on certain days, has navigated through the challenges posed by these labor disputes.