WestJet mechanics strike – Open Jaw

In a surprise development that WestJet said could cause “severe” travel disruption, the airline’s mechanics went on strike at 7:30 p.m. ET on June 28, 2024.

On June 27, Canada’s Labour Minister directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to initiate final, binding arbitration to resolve the outstanding disputes between the airline and the mechanics’ union.

The union said it would comply, and Canada’s travel industry breathed a sigh of relief. But members of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) went on strike on June 28, the Friday evening of the long weekend.

At 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time, WestJet’s AMEs (aircraft maintenance technicians) began their strike against the company,” AMFA said in a statement. “The union continues to engage in dialogue with the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) and the airline to resolve this impasse.”

“The AMEs hoped this action would be unnecessary, but the airline’s unwillingness to negotiate with the union made the strike inevitable,” the union said. “While the AMEs and their union are eager to get back to work, the timeline for doing so is in the hands of WestJet management.”

WestJet sharply attacked the union and said it was outraged by the mechanics’ actions.

“The only reason for this union to continue its strike is to cause damage, disrupt the travel plans of thousands of Canadians over the July long weekend and impose significant costs on our company,” said Diederik Pen, president of WestJet Airlines and the group’s chief operating officer. “Because arbitration has been ordered, a strike has no bearing on the outcome of the arbitration, so it is pure retaliation from a disgruntled union.”

“We are extremely outraged by these measures and will hold AMFA 100% accountable for the unnecessary stress and costs they have caused.”

WestJet said the company is “actively and vigorously pursuing all options to minimize disruption, including calling on the Minister of Labour and the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to take immediate action.”

“If the strike is not ended immediately, severe travel disruptions are to be expected as the shutdown of the network can no longer be carried out in the orderly manner that WestJet had originally planned.”

The airline said passengers should check the status of their flight before heading to the airport. It also urged the public to visit WestJet’s Guest Updates page for more information on flight status, travel changes and more.

WS had already started cancelling flights in anticipation of a possible mechanics strike before the minister’s order. The airline said that 25 flights scheduled for June 27 and 28 were cancelled in anticipation of a possible AMFA strike.

How WestJet will cope without its mechanics is unclear, but McGill University aviation expert John Gradek told the Toronto Star on June 27 that a mechanics strike would bring 90% of WS flights to a halt.

OpenJaw is closely monitoring this rapidly evolving situation and will publish a report over the weekend.