WestJet flight attendants have approved a new collective agreement with the airline, with an overwhelming 90.2% vote in favor of the deal. Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, noting the significant progress made during negotiations. The agreement, which marks only the second contract for the group, includes substantial improvements such as fair compensation for additional work.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees disclosed that the deal entails an 18% wage increase spread over three years, along with provisions for compensating ground work. The agreement outlines a 13% pay raise in October, followed by increments of 2.75% in January and 2.5% at the beginning of 2028. WestJet has not provided immediate feedback on the ratification.
Negotiations commenced in January, with disagreements between WestJet and the CUPE WestJet Component primarily focusing on salary adjustments and disputes over unpaid ground duties performed by cabin crews. The union had persistently highlighted the issue of uncompensated off-flight tasks, while WestJet maintained that all responsibilities were adequately covered through a credit hour system as opposed to hourly wages.
Effective from January 1, 2026, until December 31, 2028, the new three-year agreement represents a resolution reached after difficult talks, particularly concerning boarding compensation, which led to a brief strike by approximately 4,400 cabin crew members earlier in the month. Following the strike, WestJet gradually restored its flight operations, recovering from over 900 cancellations during the busy summer travel period.
The aviation sector has faced labor unrest in recent years, with both Air Canada flight attendants and WestJet mechanics staging strikes that temporarily disrupted operations at the country’s major airlines. WestJet, known for operating more than 600 daily flights and serving over 70,000 passengers on peak days, continues to navigate challenges within the industry.