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WestJet and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) have reached a tentative deal, ending a strike that has led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights, both sides said early Monday.
CUPE, which represents 4,400 flight attendants with the Calgary-based airline, sought pay for its members from the time they check in until they clock out, instead of mostly just for time when their aircraft is in motion.
The deal ends the work stoppage — which had left passengers stranded and in limbo — during the busy summer travel season after flight attendants walked off the job Sunday.
It isn’t immediately known when flights will resume fully.
WestJet didn’t disclose details of the tentative agreement, which will be presented to cabin crew for a ratification vote.
Some insight into the tentative pact
In a statement Monday, the union said that the deal, if ratified, would “improve upon the legacy flight credit system by introducing a duty period premium that recognizes more of the work cabin crew are required to perform,” and also increases compensation for that work.
“This tentative agreement represents meaningful progress,” CUPE Local 8125 president Alia Hussain said in a statement. “It evolves the flight credit system by recognizing more of the work cabin crew are required to perform and with general increases to compensation for that work.
“To our members, thank you for your solidarity throughout this process. We also want to thank the public, labour organizations and everyone who supported cabin crew as we worked toward a fair resolution.”
More to come
