Some WestJet flights cancelled ahead of possible strike

WestJet has begun cancelling some flights across the country, including to Edmonton, as its aircraft maintenance technicians (AME) and technical operations staff prepare to walk off the job.

“We feel like there is no other choice here,” said Christopher Gatto, an AME in Edmonton.

“I think if you asked an aircraft maintenance technician if he felt he was being paid enough or received enough respect for his work, you wouldn’t get a single yes,” he added.

The union representing AME issued a 72-hour strike notice earlier this week.

“The strike vote was actually a response to WestJet’s decision not to negotiate anymore,” Gatto said.

“We wanted to return to the negotiating table, but WestJet said no,” he added.

WestJet has asked the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to intervene in the negotiations under the Canadian Labour Code. If the CIRB intervenes, it will mean both sides will be sent to arbitration for an initial collective agreement, which would prevent industrial action.

While the company awaits a response from the CIRB, it has cancelled some flights in view of the approaching end of the strike.

“We are deeply disheartened that we find ourselves in a situation where we must activate our contingency plan and begin parking aircraft,” Diederik Pen, president of WestJet Airlines, said in a press release.

As of Wednesday morning, WestJet announced 40 flight cancellations affecting 6,500 passengers. The company said it was making “every effort” to find alternatives for affected guests.

According to a spokesperson for Edmonton International Airport (YEG), it includes six departures and three arrivals in the capital.

“None of us, not this union, not all the people behind me, want to see flights cancelled or anyone’s travel disrupted,” said Ian Evershed of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association.

“We feel we need to take a stand,” he added.

According to Gatto, 97 percent of union members voted against a temporary agreement, while 98 percent voted for a strike.

A major sticking point is said to be compensation.

“For decades, aeromedical technicians have been paid far less than they should given the responsibilities they assume on a daily basis,” Gatto said.

An aviation expert says there is a shortage of AMEs and pilots in the industry.

“Only 600 flight attendants are introduced to the industry through college and only 77 percent stay in the industry. We will be short about 5,000 to 5,500 flight attendants in the next few years,” said Phyl Durdey, aviation expert at CTV News.

He is convinced that the union will get a good deal.

“They force the industry to pay the AMEs a good wage, a good salary,” Durdey said.

The company described its offer in the preliminary agreement as “generous.”

“This would make our aircraft maintenance technicians the best paid in the country, with a net wage increase of 30 to 40 percent,” Pen said.

However, Gatto said the company’s latest offering is not good for the technical staff behind the scenes.

“They were put in a position where some of them might even have had to accept a salary cut if they accepted the collective agreement,” he said.

Gatto said the decision to strike was also about solidarity.

“We will simply stand up for what we believe in and what we believe we deserve,” he said.

The strike period ends Thursday at 7:00 p.m. MT.

Anyone who has booked a flight through WestJet is asked to check the status of their flight before heading to the airport.