WestJet deal ends mechanics strike on Canada Day weekend

A major Canadian airline negotiated a deal to end a chaotic mechanics strike that disrupted one of the busiest travel days. WestJet, the country’s second-largest airline, announced Sunday that it had agreed to a new contract with the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association.

The deal comes after a last-minute attempt to Canada Day weekend The work stoppage failed due to government uncertainty. Union says The contract guarantees employees an immediate salary increase of 15.5 percent as well as further single-digit increases over the course of the five-year agreement.

“We are grateful and relieved to announce that the aircraft maintenance engineers represented by AMFA and WestJet have successfully negotiated a contract for the next five years,” the union said in a statement. “This ends our lawful strike against the company, effective immediately.”

Negotiations between WestJet and AMFA, which have been ongoing since 2023, have been controversial. In May, the airline said it was ready to lock the mechanics out of their work if no agreement could be reached. In return, the mechanics gave multiple strike notifications to the airline. When talks broke down earlier this month, WestJet sought and received an order from Canada’s labour minister for compulsory arbitration. But the Canada Industrial Relations Board, which was supposed to implement the order, instead told AMFA it could go on strike. They did so on Friday, forcing WestJet to ground 130 aircraft at 13 airports.

“Lack of clarity from the government and the CIRB’s decisions allowed a strike to occur despite binding arbitration,” WestJet said in a statement. “With no path to resolution, both parties took important steps to find common ground and reach an agreement.”

The agreement will now be submitted to union members for ratification.