Striking WestJet flight attendants say 13% pay bump, ‘duty pay premium’ for pre-flight work not enough

WestJet flight attendants who walked off the job Sunday say an offer of a 13 per cent pay increase and a 'duty pay premium' are not enough. Photo by Jim Wells /Postmedia

Article content

A WestJet flight attendant strike is officially underway after the airline and the union failed to reach an agreement early Sunday morning, both sides announced, leaving untold thousands of travellers scrambling to adjust their plans.

Article content

CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said the airline was “disappointed” with the outcome and said it remains available to negotiate with CUPE 8125, the local which represents approximately 4,400 WestJet cabin crew.

Article content

Article content

Article content

“We presented a proposal that would have set a new standard for cabin crew in Canada, making WestJet the only airline to offer an hourly rate covering all time before and after flights, plus a double-digit wage increase in year one among other priorities the union raised,” von Hoensbroech said in a statement. 

Article content

Article content

In a separate statement, the carrier said it offered a 13 per cent pay increase effective Oct. 1 and retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026, and 2.5 per cent annual increases through January 2029. Per diems would increase by the same amount on the same schedule.

Article content

It also proposed a new “duty pay premium — a payment for all duty hours (additional pay for all hours worked designed to solve the union’s claim of unpaid work), equivalent to another 12 per cent of salary increase.”

Article content

Other details of the proposal include a healthcare spending account of $300 annually, a 17-week maternity leave top-up, a new flexible part-time program, improved scheduling and res provisions, premium pay for certain flight reassignments, reduced maximum duty days on more demanding schedules and compensation for delays in accessing hotel rooms during layovers.

Article content

Article content

“It’s important to be clear about what was offered, what was not accepted, and what is leading to 250,000 guests whose August long weekend travel is cancelled, with further flights to follow, depending on the duration of the work stoppage,” the airline explained, noting inanother news release that 309 flights had been cancelled as late Saturday night.

Article content

Article content

Article content

CUPE 8125 president Alia Hussain said the offer “did not go far enough” and that flight attendants took labour action because they “deserve better.”

Article content

“Unpaid work is a big piece of our priorities, but we are bargaining a comprehensive contract,” she said in a statement, noting the strike could have been avoided had the airline taken “concerns seriously for almost 11 months of bargaining.”

Article content

National Post has contacted the union for more information on a media availability with Hussain scheduled for Sunday morning in Calgary, where talks had been ongoing. 

Article content

Hussain also reiterated the union’s plea that the federal government refrain from involving itself.

Article content

When some 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants hit the picket line last summer, the federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu invoked section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to impose binding arbitration.

Article content

The Canada Industrial Relations Board then declared the strike unlawful and issued a return-to-work order that flight attendants defied for three days until an agreement was reached. Air Canada now pays for flight attendants for some ground duties.