WestJet flight attendants have approved a new collective agreement with the airline, with an overwhelming 90.2 percent vote in favor of the deal. Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that the members’ strong support reflects the significant progress achieved during negotiations.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees revealed that the agreement entails an increase in wages of over 18 percent spread across three years, along with additional compensation for ground work. The contract outlines a 13 percent wage boost scheduled for October, followed by a 2.75 percent raise in January and a further 2.5 percent increase at the beginning of 2028.
Following months of negotiations starting in January, WestJet and the CUPE WestJet Component resolved disputes concerning wage increments and compensation for off-aircraft tasks. The union had persistently raised concerns about unpaid ground duties, contending that these responsibilities were not adequately compensated. Conversely, WestJet maintained that all tasks were remunerated through a credit hour system rather than an hourly wage.
The newly agreed-upon three-year contract will be effective from January 1, 2026, until December 31, 2028. The negotiations were challenging, particularly regarding boarding pay, leading to a brief strike by around 4,400 cabin crew members earlier in the month. Subsequently, WestJet’s flight operations gradually normalized following over 900 flight cancellations during the peak summer travel period.
The aviation sector in Canada has witnessed several labor disputes in recent years, with strikes by Air Canada flight attendants and WestJet mechanics causing disruptions in operations at the country’s major airlines. WestJet, which operates more than 600 daily flights and serves over 70,000 passengers on peak days, is now moving forward with the ratified collective agreement.