WestJet avoids further strike-related disruptions with mediator intervention | News

WestJet Thanks to the intervention of a mediator who will assist in contract negotiations between the airline and its maintenance workers’ union, further flight disruptions were avoided.

The Calgary-based airline said on June 27 that Canada’s Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan Jr. had directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board to help WestJet Group and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association agree on a new collective bargaining agreement.

“The airline acknowledges the Minister’s direction to ensure industrial peace and AMFA has confirmed that it will comply with this direction,” WestJet said. “With this in mind, there will be no strike or lockout and the airline will not cancel any more flights.”

The career 25 flights cancelled on June 27 and 28, ahead of the strike threatened by the union, which was to begin on June 28. WestJet warned that approximately 250,000 air travelers would face travel disruptions if the strike had continued throughout the long weekend.

But now it appears that a large-scale disruption to the network has been avoided ahead of the busy weekend of air travel, with WestJet saying it will restart operations “as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

“Thanks to government action, Canadians’ summer travel plans have been protected and we have a path to resolution,” said Diederik Pen, WestJet’s Chief Operating Officer. “We recognize the significant impact the initial cancellations continue to have on our guests and our employees, and we sincerely appreciate their patience and understanding as we resume operations.”

The union is seeking a collective agreement with improved pay, benefits and quality of life measures. It recently filed a 72-hour strike notice “in the hope that this will prompt WestJet to make a good faith offer to its employees,” AMFA said.

The union was on the verge of a strike on June 20, after which WestJet began cancelling flights to avoid stranding passengers, crew and aircraft in remote locations. The two sides agreed to return to the bargaining table, but those talks quickly fell apart.

WestJet claims that its maintenance workers would have been the best paid in Canada based on the latest contract offer.