At least 150 Westjet flights cancelled after surprise strike by mechanics union

The airline WestJet said it had to cancel at least 150 flights starting Saturday after the union responsible for maintaining the airline’s aircraft announced a strike on Friday evening.

According to the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), its members began the strike around 7:30 p.m. ET.

According to AMFA, the move was due to the airline’s “unwillingness to negotiate with the union.”

The strike, which WestJet said affected around 20,000 travellers, came after the federal government issued a ministerial order for binding arbitration on Thursday, following two weeks of heated discussions with the union over a new agreement.

WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline based in Calgary, condemned the mechanics’ union’s move, saying it was “extremely outraged by these actions and will hold AMFA 100 percent accountable for the unnecessary stress and costs it has caused.”

In an update to its members, the union’s bargaining committee referred to a Canada Industrial Relations Board order that does not explicitly prohibit strikes or lockouts as the court conducts arbitration proceedings on Wednesday, as directed by Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan.

WestJet says Canadians will face “severe travel disruption” if the sudden strike is not ended.

People who have booked with WestJet are advised to check the status of their flight before heading to the airport.