WestJet cancels flights ahead of possible AME and Tech Ops strike

WestJet said it had cancelled around 25 flights in response to a strike threat from the union of aircraft maintenance technicians (AMEs) and other technical operations personnel.

The flights were originally scheduled for June 27 and 28, before the busy Canada Day weekend. Around 3,300 passengers are affected by the cancellations, WestJet said.

“With the July long weekend fast approaching, it is particularly devastating that the strike notice we have received is forcing us to cancel flights and park aircraft – for the second time in just over a week,” said Diederik Pen, President of WestJet Airlines and Chief Operating Officer of the Group.

WestJet AMEs and other technical employees are represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA). The union announced a strike “just hours into the first day” of an agreed four-day collective bargaining period, WestJet said.

A strike could begin as early as 5:30 p.m. Mountain Time on Friday, before what the airline says is the busiest travel weekend of the summer.

The airline said it had presented AMFA with a “Canadian industry-leading contract that is more suitable than the tentative agreement that was previously rejected,” and said a strike could disrupt the travel plans of more than 250,000 passengers over the Canada Day weekend.

The union hit back in two public statements, saying it had submitted a proposal on the morning of June 25 with terms that “member surveys indicate would lead to ratification of the contract and industrial peace.”

AMFA claims that WestJet proposed an “economic improvement of less than one percent at the expense of an extended contract term” in return.

WestJet had previously said it had made an offer of a 22 percent pay increase over four years. Both parties confirmed that the union had given a 72-hour strike notice, followed by a lockout order from WestJet.

“Strike or not, AMFA will always be ready to negotiate,” the union said in a statement. “We have agreed to extend negotiations in Toronto until the end of this week and continue in Calgary next week if necessary.”

WestJet accuses the union of trying to impose an “unreasonable contract.”

“We remain at the negotiating table and are committed to reaching an agreement. However, we have no choice but to stick to a reasonable outcome that secures our future and allows us to provide essential and affordable air travel to Canadians,” Pen said.

“While we are cancelling flights across our network, we will continue to operate with the highest levels of safety.”