Canadian airline WestJet cancels at least 150 flights after surprise strike by mechanics union

TORONTO – Canada’s second-largest airline, WestJet, says it has cancelled at least 150 flights carrying 20,000 passengers since Saturday after the maintenance workers’ union announced a strike.

The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association said its members began the strike on Friday evening because the airline’s “unwillingness to negotiate with the union” made it unavoidable.

The strike came after the federal government issued a ministerial order for binding arbitration on Thursday, following two weeks of turbulent negotiations with the union over a new collective agreement.

On Thursday, WestJet said the union had “confirmed that it will comply with the directive. With that in mind, there will be no strikes or lockouts and the airline will not cancel any more flights.”

The surprise strike, which affects international and domestic flights, takes place during the Canada Day long weekend.

WestJet, an airline based in Calgary, Alberta, said it was “extremely outraged” and would hold the union fully accountable for the unnecessary burden and costs.

In an update to its members, the union’s bargaining committee pointed to a Canada Industrial Relations Board order that does not explicitly prohibit strikes or lockouts during the tribunal’s arbitration process.