How mediation plans went awry before the WestJet mechanics strike

An order by the federal labor minister to subject WestJet and its aircraft mechanics to binding arbitration unexpectedly led to a strike on one of the busiest travel weekends of the summer.

The work stoppage, which ended late Sunday evening, raises questions about the dispute resolution process and how consumers should respond to the threat of a strike at the airline.

Ian Evershed, a mechanic and union representative who helped lead the negotiations, says Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan had the power to ban a strike as part of his instructions to the country’s employment tribunal to initiate binding arbitration.

In their public statements, both the airline and the government seemed to assume that a strike was no longer an option under the order. However, a ruling by the Canada Industrial Relations Board on Friday said the union’s 680 WestJet workers could still walk out because the order did not explicitly exclude that right.

WestJet and the federal government were caught off guard, as were the approximately 150,000 travelers who had booked more than 1,100 flights booked by the Calgary-based airline since Thursday and had them canceled.

Marty Firestone, president of insurance firm Travel Secure Inc., says that while most travelers could get a refund, those who had expenses for hotel or other flight bookings may not get that money back without trip cancellation or interruption insurance.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 2, 2024.

The Canadian Press