WestJet, CUPE reach tentative deal to end flight attendant strike

newsAug 3, 202632582

WestJet and the Canadian Union of Public Employees reached a tentative agreement early Monday that ends a strike by CUPE’s 4,400 flight attendants that had led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights. CUPE had been seeking pay for members from the time they check in until they clock out rather than mainly for time in motion; the union says the tentative deal introduces a duty period premium and increases compensation. WestJet did not disclose the agreement’s details; the deal will be presented to cabin crew in a ratification vote. Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu confirmed the pact, while McGill lecturer John Gradek said restoring operations will likely take a few days and noted some 225,000 Canadians were affected by cancellations. Travel agent Shalene Dudley urged passengers to keep checking flight status as the airline works to recover service levels.

The Beaverton

@thebeaverton.com

Canadians relieved they won’t be forced to fly Air Canada

19044d ago

Andy E. Nystrom7

The odd thing is WestJet's quality has dropped to the point that you can potentially have better service on Air Canada. Maybe a follow up headline can be "Passengers Returning to WestJet After Strike Horrified to Realize Air Canada is Better Now"

Karen Klassen1

Sad to say but since WestJet was sold I’d rather fly Air Canada.

Quoting this

Shamus Brown2

Sorry. Six of one, half dozen of the other. Whenever we get a good airline they either sell (Wardair) or are gobbled by a bigger one that ruins it (Sunwing) We need some deep pocketed air geek to make a serious effort to improve the airline industry here!

Dale Smith

@journodale.bsky.social

Every other time the Liberals let the company and the union work it out at the bargaining table, the Conservatives had a meltdown and demanded back-to-work legislation. Every. Single. Fucking. Time. Now they're cheering that the Liberal government "got out of the way." Just absolute hypocrites.

Kyle Seeback:
Good news: a tentative agreement has been reached at WestJet.

This is exactly what happens when the Liberal government gets out of the way and allows collective bargaining to work.

Workers and employers are capable of reaching agreements when they're given the space to negotiate.

#unpaidworkwontfly

Quoting:
WestJet Component

As of 4:15am on August 3, we are no longer on strike as we have reached a tentative agreement with the Company. All picketing activities must cease effective immediately. Members should refer to their email for more details. Thank you to our members, the public, and supporting unions for your support.

Depuis 4 h 15 du matin, le 3 août, nous ne sommes plus en grève, car nous sommes parvenus à une entente de principe avec l'entreprise. Toutes les activités de piquetage doivent cesser avec effet immédiat. Les membres sont invités à consulter leur couriel pour plus de détails. Merci à nos membres, au public et aux syndicats qui nous ont apporté leur
soutien.

WE HAVE REACHED A TENTATNE
AGREEMENT

NOUS AVONS
CONCLU UNE ENTENTE DE
PRINCIPE

4844d ago

Naheed Nenshi

@naheednenshi.bsky.social

This weekend, thousands of Canadians have had their holiday and business travel plans disrupted as WestJet flight attendants went on strike. 1/

3545d ago

Naheed Nenshi48

We strongly believe that everyone should be paid for the hours that they work, and we stand in solidarity with the flight attendants as they fight for fair wages. We encourage management to table a fair and acceptable offer and get planes back in the air.

Rugged Broad2

Business plans are secondary. Biz can be done remotely. Stand with the workers, not the biz class that feels it needs to travel for work. And be more effective, please. Y’all make a lot of dough.

Robert McMillan 🇨🇦 🇨🇦 🇨🇦1

Naheed, why is there no use of alt text? You are ignoring blind people who use text to voice DO BETTER

Cheryl in Nova Scotia 🇨🇦🍁🍁

@minibubbly.bsky.social

CALGARY — WestJet and the Canadian Union of Public Employees, representing 4,400 flight attendants, reached a tentative contract agreement early Monday morning. #Canada www.ctvnews.ca/canada/artic...

3545d ago

Emily Lowan (she/her)

@emilylowan.bsky.social

Every workers deserves fair compensation for their work — that’s why the right to strike is sacred. Solidarity to the flight attendants at WestJet, and to all workers fighting for better.

4145d ago

Don Davies

@donvdavies.bsky.social

99% of collective agreements are reached without a strike. Collective bargaining and job action are not only Constitutional rights, vital in a democracy - they work in practice. Congrats to CUPE members and Westjet on reaching a negotiated settlement.

3345d ago

Quoting this

MondoAB12

💯 Solidarity with workers! ✊

Resign, Carney. ⚜️2

99% of modern collective agreements have given way too much away to the employer and one day we are going to have to have a conversation about how corrupt #canlab union management has become.

Trapdinawrpool

@trapdinawrpool.bsky.social

CBC's coverage of the Westjet strike was almost entirely focused on inconvenienced passengers instead of the reality that people were being forced to work without pay

2344d ago

Toronto Star

@thestar.com

Developing: #WestJet flight attendants went on strike early Sunday morning, leaving thousands of travellers scrambling during the busiest stretch of the summer travel season. ✈️ Here's what you need to know:

2046d ago

Daniel Probably an Air-conditioned Cat9

This framing is pretty silly... Maybe it's the company who failed to adequately compensate staff that left travelers scrambling?

Toronto Star4

Update: WestJet will now allow guests with travel planned up to Aug. 5 to make a one-time change or cancellation at no extra cost. Here's the latest:

WBB - Cernunnos4

Always worth noting that the useless rich CEO of #WestJet left passengers scrambling. FFS already.

Samantha eff Jones4

WestJet execs are greedy jerks leaving thousands of travellers scrambling... There I fixed it for you ;)

Daniel 🦁2

Flight attendants deserve to be paid while they're at work, so I support their right to strike. WestJet needs to pay them properly.

Quoting this

Stephanie Carvin71

The conditions that flight attendants work under is crazy pants. Go get ‘em, team.

Ryan3

WestJet used to be best in the business for customer satisfaction. Yet another company ruined by being bought by a private equity firm. #TeamFlightAttendants #GetThatMoney

KQ52

REMEMBER: STRIKERS ARE NOT THE BAD GUYS! WESTJET REFUSING TO PAY THEM PROPERLY IS THE PROBLEM. MAKING MILLIONS IN PROFITS BUT NOT RESPECTING EMPLOYEES. CALL/SEND E-MAILS TO WESTJET & TELL THEM TO PAY UP!!!

🍁 Christine 🍁

@204queenb0574.bsky.social

This is why the right to strike must be protected. It's the only way to get greedy employers to negotiate in good faith and listen to what actually matters to their employees. Strikes aren't about punishing the public, they're about getting fair and safe working conditions.

2045d ago

Air Passenger Rights

@airpassengerrights.ca

MISINFORMATION ALERT The Canadian Press has published a misinformation piece entitled "What travellers should know about navigating WestJet strike disruptions" that repeat WestJet's message instead of legitimate information about your rights under the law.

645d ago

Jenny Kwan

@jennykwan.bsky.social

Supporting Westjet workers at the picket for a fair collective agreement. Unpaid work won’s fly! Liberals invoked Section 107 of the Labour Code ten times since 2023 and took away the workers’ right to strike and undermine the collective bargaining process to tip the scales in employers’ favour.

1044d ago

Union Now!

@unionnow.org

Did you know many flight attendants aren’t paid during boarding and deplaning? That’s one big reason almost 4,500 flight attendants at Canada’s WestJet walked off the job Sunday as management refused to negotiate fair pay for their work. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/02/w...

944d ago

CUPE SCFP

@cupescfp.bsky.social

CUPE 8125 WestJet flight attendants have reached a tentative agreement. The strike and lockout are officially over for Mainline Cabin Crew.

844d ago

Cory 🇨🇦

@cdnerethizon.bsky.social

This is what happens when you let labour negotiations play out. It's good to see that the government didn't interfere. WestJet, CUPE reach tentative agreement, ending operational disruptions. #onpoli #cdnpoli www.ctvnews.ca/canada/artic...

745d ago

Karen Pauls

@karenpaulscbc.bsky.social

#Breaking: WestJet and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) have reached a tentative deal, ending a strike that has led to the cancellation ‌of hundreds of flights, both sides said early Monday. www.cbc.ca/news/world/w...

545d ago

1 source

cbc.caWestJet, CUPE reach tentative deal to end strike by flight attendants, airline says | CBC News

House Ethics Committee urges censure of Rep. Chuck Edwardsnews WestJet, CUPE reach tentative deal to end flight attendant strikenews

WestJet, CUPE reach tentative deal to end flight attendant strike

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