A strike by WestJet maintenance technicians appears to have been averted for now.
The Aircraft Mechanics and Fraternal Association (AMFA) and WestJet are returning to the bargaining table and the union is calling on its members not to engage in any industrial action.
According to the union, WestJet’s request to end the strike was rejected by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB).
The employer had requested arbitration, but WestJet said the CIRB stated that more “time and input” was needed first.
Following the CIRB’s decision, WestJet agreed to set negotiation dates and the union revoked its strike mandate, AMFA said in a press release.
AMFA had planned a walkout for Thursday and in the run-up to the strike the airline cancelled or combined around 40 flights, affecting around 6,500 travellers.
WestJet said it is working to resume “normal operations as quickly and efficiently as possible.” Travelers are asked to check the status of their flight before heading to the airport.
“We recognize the impact the initial cancellations have had on our guests and our employees, and we sincerely appreciate their patience and understanding during this time,” said WestJet President Diederik Pen. “As we return to the negotiating table, we are committed to finding a solution to avoid further disruption to our operations.”
A preliminary agreement between the maintenance engineers and WestJet was rejected on June 11 with 97.25 percent of the votes against.
– with files from Valerie Leung
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