WestJet AMEs back in service after disruptive two-day strike

WestJet continues to grapple with the aftermath of a strike by its aircraft maintenance technicians that severely disrupted operations over the busy Canada Day weekend.

On Friday night, flight attendants walked off the job, prompting the airline to ground 130 aircraft at 13 airports across Canada, WestJet said. The parties reached an agreement around 10:30 p.m. Mountain Time on Sunday and flight attendants were ordered to return to work immediately.

“The damage to Canadians and our airline is enormous, and a swift resolution was necessary. We are not taking victory laps on this outcome, but we will sleep better tonight knowing that further damage was prevented,” said Diederik Pen, President of WestJet Airlines and Chief Operating Officer of the group.

“We will not see any further industrial action as a result of this dispute as both parties have agreed to resolve the contract through arbitration in the event of failed ratification.”

The agreement appears to have ended a heated dispute between WestJet management and the union representing the AMEs, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA).

AMFA had stated that it would comply with an order from the federal government to initiate binding arbitration to clarify the outstanding terms of its first collective bargaining agreement with WestJet.

The flight attendants decided to walk off the job anyway, leading to the cancellation of at least 800 flights, WestJet said in a statement on Sunday. The airline said the strike had a “cumulative impact” on “tens of thousands of customers.”

The parties have reached a preliminary agreement on a five-year contract that provides for “significant improvements both to the current working conditions and to those provided for in the first preliminary agreement,” AMFA said.

The terms of the agreement have not been disclosed, but according to AMFA, it includes immediate wage increases and improved benefits for employees, among other concessions.

Union members in good standing will now vote on ratifying the agreement. AMFA claims that ratification will make the government-mandated arbitration process unnecessary.

“We believe this outcome would not have been possible without the strike, but regret the disruption and inconvenience it caused to the travelling public during the Canada Day holiday,” AMFA said in a statement.

“The timing was fortuitous as the negotiation process did not follow a predictable timeline. We are pleased that the strike lasted only 48 hours and operations can now return to normal. We appreciate the public’s support as our organization stood up to management on behalf of hardworking Canadians. We appreciate everyone’s patience in the face of canceled flights and schedule changes.

“Now it’s time to show the world how we make WestJet fly.”