Thousands of Canadian travelers are likely reviewing their plans for the upcoming August long weekend following a resounding 99.4% strike vote by WestJet flight attendants. The decisive yes vote outcome, disclosed on Wednesday morning, paves the way for approximately 4,400 union members represented by CUPE Local 8125 to potentially initiate a strike action on August 2. A CUPE spokesperson informed CBC News that 97.3% of flight attendants participated in the voting process.
Should a strike by mainline flight attendants materialize, it would effectively ground WestJet, the second-largest airline in Canada, on the eve of a statutory holiday in multiple provinces. Additionally, WestJet could opt to lock out flight attendants starting on the same date due to the expiration of a federal “cooling off” period, independent of the strike vote. Both parties are required to provide a 72-hour notice, meaning Canadians may have to wait until the end of the month for clarity on the status of their August flights.
Negotiations have been ongoing between WestJet and unionized flight attendants for the airline’s primary “mainline” flights since late 2025. The previous contract between the Canadian Union of Public Employees and the airline was in effect from March 1, 2021, until the culmination of last year. WestJet’s CEO, Alexis von Hoensbroech, acknowledged that the outdated nature of the prior contract may necessitate significant enhancements in a new agreement.
Flight attendants at WestJet are remunerated based on a fixed amount of “credit hours” that can vary per flight, depending on its duration. The airline’s stance is that the “credit hour” wage is higher to account for additional duties during seemingly unpaid hours. However, concerns have been raised by both the WestJet and Air Canada unions regarding this payment method, citing its failure to consider flight delays or unexpected situations where cabin crew are on duty despite not flying.
While the union argues that certain schedules pay flight attendants below the federal minimum wage of $18.15 per hour, WestJet has countered with a self-audit that identified only a few instances where minimum wage may not have been met. The company attributed these cases to employee-driven modifications to their schedules, such as shift trades.
In response to the strike vote, WestJet’s CEO expressed openness to revising the payment system but emphasized the need for sustainability and financial viability for the airline. Despite the prolonged negotiations, the union remains committed to reaching a resolution without disrupting passengers. Both sides continue to engage in discussions with federal conciliators present.
As discussions persist over flight attendants’ schedules and compensation levels, WestJet has highlighted that 32 collective agreement items have been settled, with 35 articles still under negotiation. The airline has reassured passengers that efforts are ongoing to secure an agreement and that a strike is not inevitable. WestJet previously faced a significant labor dispute in the summer of 2024 involving unionized airline mechanics, impacting tens of thousands of travelers over the Canada Day long weekend.
