Canadian airline WestJet said it was forced to cancel at least 410 flights ahead of Canada Day on Monday after mechanics at the Calgary-based airline went on surprise strike.
The strike began on Friday evening. WestJet initially cancelled just 25 flights before massive disruptions occurred on Saturday with 150 cancellations and a further 235 flights cancelled on Sunday.
The airline said that around 56,300 passengers have been affected by the strike so far. Hundreds more flights are likely to be cancelled in the coming days.
The mechanics represented in the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) decided on Friday to go on strike as part of a labor dispute over pay and working conditions that has been ongoing since the middle of last year.
Earlier this month, a Canadian labour court ordered the airline and the union to go to binding arbitration to resolve the dispute. However, it could be weeks before the arbitration hearing is set, leaving both sides in a state of limbo.
WestJet has accused AMFA of exploiting this uncertainty to cause “irreparable damage” to the travel plans of tens of thousands of passengers, but the union says it simply wants to bring the airline back to the bargaining table.
Despite WestJet’s anger at the situation the company found itself in, Canada’s labour courts ruled that the airline’s mechanics could legally strike pending binding arbitration.
“This situation is devastating,” said Diederik Pen, President and COO of WestJet. “We are looking for every opportunity to intervene and are working around the clock to maintain a stable network while reducing our flights in a safe and controlled manner.”
As tensions between the two sides grew, AMFA accused the airline of threatening disciplinary action against workers who participated in a legal stoppage. In response, the union threatened legal action if WestJet retracted a letter warning workers of consequences if they went on strike.
