WestJet technicians strike on Canada Day weekend

Just before the start of the long Canada Day weekend, WestJet aircraft maintenance technicians have gone on strike, a surprising development in the ongoing labour dispute.

The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), the mechanics’ union, announced the strike in a statement on Friday, June 28.

Members were ordered to stop working at 4:30 p.m. PST, the statement said.

In response to the strike, WestJet warned travelers that if the strike is not ended, there could be “severe travel disruption” because the “network closure can no longer be carried out in the orderly manner” the airline had originally planned.

Travelers are advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport.

The strike came as a surprise as Canada’s labour minister asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) on Thursday to help the parties reach a final settlement through binding arbitration.

Both AMFA and WestJet had agreed to comply with the minister’s order.

AMFA issued its first warning last week but later withdrew it when the CIRB ruled against WestJet’s attempt to end the strike and WestJet agreed to set negotiation dates.

After negotiations failed again, the company issued a second strike notice.

The first notification resulted in the cancellation of approximately 40 flights, and WestJet canceled 25 flights after the second notification.

In an email to Virginia Swindall, WestJet’s senior manager of labor relations, posted on AMFA’s website, the union accused the employer of breaking off negotiations, citing allegedly withholding a revised contract proposal and demanding that certain members of the bargaining committee be excluded.

WestJet, on the other hand, expressed “extreme outrage” at the union’s decision to continue the strike.

“The government has formally stepped in to offer binding arbitration and ensure we reach a resolution. The only reason this union is continuing its strike is to cause damage, disrupt the travel plans of thousands of Canadians over the July long weekend and impose significant costs on our company,” said Diederik Pen, president and chief operating officer of WestJet Airlines, in a statement released this evening.

The airline said it was “actively and aggressively pursuing all options to minimize disruption.”

Meanwhile, AMFA announced that its collective bargaining committee was ready to continue talks with the employer.

“The parties are separated by an economic difference of about 7 percent, or less than $8 million per year,” the AMFA statement said.

With files from Valerie Leung.