WestJet mechanics cancel strike plans as negotiations progress

June 20, 2024

Summary

WestJet and its maintenance workers are returning to the bargaining table after the union withdrew its strike notice.
However, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) union accused WestJet of violating workers’ right to strike to improve their working conditions.
On June 20, the airline plans to cancel 13 flights.

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A day after WestJet announced it would begin parking planes and canceling around 40 flights due to a strike by aircraft maintenance technicians and technical operations staff, the two sides returned to the negotiating table after Canadian officials asked for more time to review documents needed for the arbitration process.

Solution through arbitration

On June 18, WestJet announced that it had approached the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) and requested arbitration for negotiations with its maintenance employees, represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA).

However, on June 19, WestJet announced that the CIRB had stated that it would need more time to decide whether or not the collective agreement should be settled through arbitration, as the panel would need more documents from both sides.

Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying

Nevertheless, AMFA withdrew its strike notice, and the union and the airline will now return to the bargaining table. In an operational update on June 19, WestJet said it would have to cancel 18 flights that day and 13 flights on June 20, affecting around 6,500 customers across its network.

Parked Boeing 737 MAX 8 from WestJet shutterstock_1362579326

WestJet cancels 40 flights ahead of maintenance and technical strike

While WestJet said the offer was generous, the maintenance technicians’ union said there were problems within the airline.

Attack on workers’ rights

In a statement on June 19, AMFA pointed out that the Canadian Constitution establishes the right of workers to strike to improve their working conditions. “holy,” which has now been attacked by WestJet.

“After threatening its AMEs with an imminent lockout, the company is now asking the CIRB to issue an injunction prohibiting us from responding in kind.”

Although AMFA initially stated that WestJet refused to resume negotiations on June 19 and 20 and would file charges with the CIRB over the airline’s refusal to negotiate, the two sides have now resumed negotiations.

WestJet Boeing 737 MAX on the ground in Calgary

Photo: Welshboy2020 | Shutterstock

Nevertheless, Diederik Pen, President of WestJet and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the WestJet Group, said the airline appreciated the patience of its passengers during the flight disruptions. Pen added that WestJet was committed to finding a solution with its maintenance staff to avoid further service disruptions.

WestJet launches Boeing 737 MAX service between Calgary and Iceland

WestJet has seven transatlantic routes and has now introduced direct flights from Calgary to Reykjavik in Iceland.

Relatively few canceled flights

As WestJet outlined in its latest update, the airline had to cancel 18 and 13 flights on June 19 and 20, respectively. Meanwhile, data from aviation analytics firm Cirium showed that the airline had scheduled 564 and 579 flights for Wednesdays and Thursdays, respectively, in June.

Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

On June 20, of the 13 flights canceled by WestJet, seven were scheduled to land at Calgary International Airport (YYC), three at Edmonton International Airport (YEG), one each at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS).