WestJet strike: Dozens of flights cancelled at YVR

Dozens of WestJet flights were cancelled at airports across British Columbia on Saturday after the airline’s mechanics union put its strike plans into action Friday night.

WestJet’s online flight status tool showed that 29 flights to Vancouver International Airport and 28 other departures from YVR had been cancelled on Saturday morning.

Other major airports in British Columbia were also affected: At Kelowna International Airport, eight departures and eight arrivals were canceled, while at Victoria International Airport, six and eight arrivals respectively were canceled.

According to WestJet, there was also at least one cancellation on Saturday at smaller airports in Abbotsford, Comox, Kamloops, Nanaimo, Prince George and Terrace.

The Calgary-based airline said it would cancel more than 150 flights across its network as a result of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association strike, affecting more than 20,000 passengers over the busy Canada Day long weekend.

“If the strike is not ended or immediate action is not taken, further cancellations are expected through Saturday morning,” WestJet said in a statement on Friday evening.

The company added that it is “actively and aggressively pursuing all opportunities to minimize disruption.”

Earlier this week, it appeared that WestJet and its mechanics might be able to avoid major disruptions after federal Labor Minister Seamus O’Regan ordered binding arbitration to resolve the dispute.

AMFA has taken the position that O’Regan’s order does not prevent it from continuing with the industrial action it had previously threatened, and the union issued a statement Friday evening saying the Canada Industrial Relations Board had told negotiators it would not prohibit a strike.

Union representative Ian Evershed told CTV News Calgary on Friday evening that the arbitration decision does not prevent the union from exercising its right to strike.

“The minister’s letter gives no indication of any direction on the issue of strikes or lockouts,” said Evershed.

On Saturday morning, O’Regan issued a statement about X.

“The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) has made an order to refer the dispute between WestJet and AMFA to binding arbitration for an initial collective agreement under section 80 of the Canada Labour Code,” the minister said. “I am reviewing the panel’s decision, which is clearly inconsistent with my direction to the panel.”

“I will consider further steps to protect the interests of the employer, the union and all Canadians travelling this national holiday weekend.”

With files from Damien Wood of CTV News Calgary