More than 4,400 WestJet flight attendants have gone on strike after contract talks with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) broke down, forcing the airline to cancel 309 flights during one of Canada’s busiest travel periods.
The union is demanding pay for all working hours, including pre-flight and post-flight duties, arguing that cabin crew should be compensated from check-in until the end of their shift—not just while the aircraft is in the air.
WestJet said it had proposed a new pay model that included compensation for ground duties and a double-digit first-year wage increase, but both sides failed to reach an agreement.
Affected passengers are being offered refunds or alternative travel arrangements as the strike continues.