Toronto, Canada – WestJet, the country’s second-largest airline, has announced the cancellation of 407 flights affecting approximately 49,000 passengers due to a strike by its maintenance workers’ union. The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association initiated the strike, citing the airline’s lack of willingness to negotiate with the union as the primary reason for the labor action.
The surprise strike, impacting both international and domestic flights, came after the Canadian government issued a ministerial order for binding arbitration in response to turbulent discussions between WestJet and the union regarding a new deal. Despite the ongoing strike, WestJet plans to continue grounding aircraft through the long weekend leading up to Canada Day on Monday, with only a limited number of aircraft expected to operate by Sunday evening.
WestJet’s CEO, Alexis von Hoensbroech, attributed the situation to what he described as a “rogue union from the U.S.” attempting to influence Canada. Von Hoensbroech emphasized that once the government intervened by directing the dispute to binding arbitration, negotiations with the union ceased, making the strike counterproductive.
The union, however, maintains that their intention is to compel WestJet to return to the negotiation table in a respectful manner. Sean McVeigh, a WestJet aircraft maintenance engineer participating in the strike, expressed regret for any inconvenience caused to passengers while highlighting the importance of fair treatment and appreciation for the workers’ contributions.
Several affected passengers, such as Samin Sahan and Samee Jan, shared their disappointment over disrupted travel plans that they had meticulously arranged in advance. Despite receiving flight rescheduling notices, many travelers found themselves stranded at airports, uncertain of when they would reach their destinations, further adding to their frustration.
The standoff between WestJet and its maintenance workers underscores the challenges faced by both the airline industry and labor unions in finding common ground amidst differing priorities and demands. As negotiations continue, the impact on passengers serves as a reminder of the ripple effects of labor disputes on various stakeholders within the travel sector.