WestJet flight attendants have approved a new collective agreement with the airline, voting 90.2 per cent in favor of the deal. Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that the members’ strong support reflects the significant progress achieved during negotiations.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees announced that the agreement entails an 18 percent wage increase spread over three years, along with additional compensation for ground-related duties. The contract stipulates a 13 percent salary bump in October, followed by 2.75 percent in January and a further 2.5 percent raise at the beginning of 2028.
Negotiations between WestJet and the CUPE WestJet Component, primarily concerning wage hikes and payment for ground tasks, commenced in January. The union had raised concerns about unpaid ground responsibilities, although WestJet contended that all duties were compensated through a credit hour system rather than an hourly wage.
Effective from January 1, 2026, until December 31, 2028, the new three-year agreement marks a significant milestone following intense discussions, particularly regarding boarding pay. The culmination of these talks was a brief strike by approximately 4,400 cabin crew members earlier this month, resulting in over 900 flight cancellations during the peak summer travel season.
WestJet’s flight operations gradually resumed following the strike action, which occurred amidst ongoing labor disputes within the aviation industry. Recent years have seen strikes by Air Canada flight attendants and WestJet mechanics, causing disruptions to operations at the country’s major airlines.
On some days, WestJet operates more than 600 flights, serving over 70,000 passengers daily.
