Over 4,000 WestJet cabin personnel have issued a formal notice of dispute after seven months of failed negotiations with the airline, but they are not going on a strike anytime soon.
When a union and an employer are unable to reach an agreement at the bargaining table, the Minister of Labour may decide to assign a conciliator to help the parties with their negotiations before a strike can be called.
The
Canada Industrial Relations Board
(CIRB) explains that, for a strike to happen, 21 days must pass since the notice of dispute or, if a conciliator is assigned, since the end of their mandate (usually 60 days).
The union must also obtain a strike mandate by holding a vote among its members. If employees vote to strike, the mandate is valid for 60 days. The union must give the employer 72 hours’ notice of its intention to strike.
A
notice issued by Canadian Union of Public Employees
(CUPE) on Monday said the dispute is centred on “a growing gap between the work flight attendants are required to perform and the outdated system that determines how that work is compensated.”
It noted that “significant portions” of flight attendants’ time are not fully compensated, saying that, on average, flight attendants work 35 hours every month unpaid.
“Flight attendants are performing increasingly demanding work in a safety-sensitive environment, and we are some of the lowest paid in Canada,” said Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125. “The system that governs our compensation was built for a different time, and it no longer reflects the value of work being done today.”
CUPE 8125 represents approximately 4,400 cabin personnel at WestJet mainline. The union and WestJet have met multiple times each month since serving notice to bargain in September 2025.
The union is also seeking improvements to scheduling and basic working conditions, and emphasized its goal of achieving a negotiated agreement while minimizing any impact on travellers.
“Flight attendants have remained patient and professional throughout this process, but delays cannot continue,” Hussain said. “We are looking for meaningful progress at the table on issues that affect our members and their ability to provide reliable service for our guests.”
She added: “Our focus is on securing a fair and sustainable agreement that reflects the realities of the job and the value of the work being done every day.”
In an email to National Post, a spokesperson for WestJet said: “WestJet recognizes and values the critical role cabin crew play in ensuring the safety, comfort, and care of our guests on every flight and remains committed to a meaningful collective agreement that is also sustainable for WestJet’s future. WestJet has been actively engaged in the bargaining process with CUPE since September 2025. While we were surprised by the timing, given the continuing progress at the table, conciliation is a common step in the labour negotiation process.”
The notice of dispute comes after the airline announced increases to baggage fees earlier this month. From April 23, travellers paying at the airport to check their bags will be charged an extra $10 each for the first and second bags. If paying in advance, the fees will go up by $5 per bag for the first and second bags.
There has also been a $50 fee increase for excess, overweight, and oversized baggage.
In addition, WestJet plans to cut some of its flights in the coming months, reducing capacity by about one per cent in April, three per cent in May and nearly six per cent in June, while a fuel surcharge of $60 has been introduced on all bookings made with a WestJet Rewards companion voucher.
The changes come amid a surge in the price of jet fuel, driven by the conflict in Iran, which has led to several airlines cancelling routes and
.
“As fuel prices continue to rise, WestJet has adjusted some flying to align with demand and best manage associated fuel costs,” the airline said in a
on April 20.
However, WestJet is also expanding its Calgary service and adding flights to Winnipeg and London, Ontario, this summer, which
representatives from London International Airport say
reflects increased demand, despite the fuel crisis.
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