Nearly 50,000 WestJet passengers affected as mechanics strike continues over holiday weekend

The CEO of Canadian airline WestJet is speaking out after a strike by mechanics has severely disrupted the airline’s operations. The industrial action initially affected over 150 flights and 20,000 passengers, but complications have now doubled.

As a result, WestJet was forced to ground its planes over the long holiday weekend in Canada. The airline’s CEO sharply criticized the mechanics’ union on Sunday, accusing it of trying to inconvenience as many people as possible.

Over 400 rejections

WestJet updated its forecast for strike-related flight cancellations on Friday. The majority of the impact occurred on Saturday, but cancellations are expected through Tuesday. Over 49,000 travelers have been affected by a total of 407 flight cancellations so far. The number is a significant increase from the airline’s original expectations, which “more than 150” Cancellations “from Saturday.” The airline stated that its decision to cancel the flights enabled it to “maintain stability throughout the remaining operation.”

Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying

Diederik Pen, President of WestJet Airlines and Group Chief Operating Officer, spoke about the impact on air traffic on Saturday.

“Today has been incredibly challenging for all of us at WestJet. Every flight cancellation we have to make represents hundreds of passengers affected by the ongoing reckless actions of this union. In the face of immense adversity, our teams are working hard to ensure safe and controlled operations.”

“Until we reach an agreement”

The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) is the union that represents WestJet’s aircraft mechanics. The association’s president, Bret Oestrich, said both pirates will resume negotiations with a mediator on Sunday, according to an exclusive report by Reuters.

“We just want to get back to the negotiating table,” explained Oestreich. “The strike will continue until we reach an agreement.”

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AMFA, which has the right to strike, reportedly represents about 680 WestJet workers. The union began striking on Friday after several rounds of negotiations failed to produce a collective agreement on higher wages and better working conditions. Oestreich also said the parties had an economic difference of about 7% in the first year. That’s less than $8 million on a contract that runs for about four years.

Photo: Denver International Airport

According to Reuters, a collective agreement was negotiated in May, but 97 percent of union members rejected it. WestJet said it offered wage increases of more than 12 percent in the first year of the agreement, while overall wages would rise by 23 percent over the term of the agreement.

Pushes for agreement

According to Reuters, WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech accused the AMFA of wanting to affect as many travelers as possible.

WestJet is Canada’s second-largest airline. Canadian Labour Minister Seamus O’Reagan has reportedly urged both WestJet and AMFA to reach an agreement. O’Reagan has also asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to resolve the dispute between the two sides through binding arbitration. Still, Oestreich insisted that the union wants a negotiated solution and not a deal imposed by an arbitration tribunal, Reuters reports.

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