WestJet’s flight attendants have officially approved a new collective agreement with the airline, showing strong support with a 90.2 percent vote in favor of the deal. Alia Hussain, the president of CUPE 8125, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, citing the significant progress made during negotiations.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees revealed that the agreement encompasses an over 18 percent salary increase spread across three years, in addition to introducing compensation for ground-related work. The contract outlines a 13 percent wage raise scheduled for this October, followed by a 2.75 percent increment in January and a 2.5 percent raise at the beginning of 2028.
The recent agreement, effective from January 1, 2026, until December 31, 2028, concluded prolonged discussions that initially sparked tensions over wage increments and disputes regarding unpaid ground duties. The union had persistently raised concerns about uncompensated work during non-flight hours, while WestJet maintained that all tasks were accounted for through a credit hour system rather than hourly wages.
The negotiation process faced challenges, particularly concerning boarding pay, resulting in a brief strike involving approximately 4,400 cabin crew members earlier this month. Following the strike, WestJet’s flight operations gradually normalized after experiencing over 900 cancellations during the peak summer travel season.
The aviation sector in Canada has witnessed a series of labor disputes in recent years, with both Air Canada and WestJet experiencing strikes that temporarily disrupted their services. WestJet, known for operating more than 600 daily flights and transporting over 70,000 passengers on busy days, is now poised to move forward under the newly ratified collective agreement.
