WestJet flight attendants have approved a new collective agreement with the airline, with a resounding 90.2% vote in favor of the deal. Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, expressed satisfaction with the members’ strong mandate and the significant progress achieved during negotiations. This marks the union’s second contract, with notable improvements ensuring fair compensation for the work performed by its members.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees disclosed that the agreement encompasses an impressive wage increase of over 18% spread across three years, alongside additional compensation for ground duties. The contract outlines a 13% wage hike scheduled for this October, followed by increments of 2.75% in January and 2.5% at the beginning of 2028.
Following months of negotiations starting in January, disagreements between WestJet and the CUPE WestJet Component primarily revolved around salary adjustments and the crew’s claims of unpaid ground tasks. The union had persistently highlighted the issue of uncompensated work conducted while off-duty, while WestJet defended its practices, stating that all tasks are compensated through a credit hour system rather than an hourly wage.
Effective from January 1, 2026, until December 31, 2028, the new three-year agreement signifies the resolution of challenging discussions, notably concerning boarding pay, that led to a brief strike by approximately 4,400 cabin crew members earlier in the month. Subsequently, WestJet’s flight operations gradually normalized after experiencing over 900 cancellations during the peak summer travel period.
The aviation sector has faced disruptions in recent years due to various labor disputes, including strikes by Air Canada flight attendants and WestJet mechanics, briefly halting operations at Canada’s major airlines. WestJet, known for operating over 600 flights daily and serving more than 70,000 passengers on certain days, remains a prominent player in the industry.