WestJet’s flight attendants have voted overwhelmingly to approve a new three-year collective agreement, bringing months of tense negotiations to a close and averting the threat of further industrial action at Canada’s second-largest carrier.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents the airline’s cabin crew, announced that 90.2 per cent of members backed the deal. The agreement delivers a more than 18 per cent wage increase over its duration, along with new compensation for ground duties that staff had long argued went unpaid.
“This is a strong mandate from our members and recognition of the meaningful gains we made at the bargaining table,” said Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125. “This is only our second contract, and we made important progress, including making sure our members are compensated for more of the work they already do.”
A Deal That Addresses Long-Standing Grievances
The ratification marks a significant victory for the union, which had been pressing for improved pay and recognition of unpaid work performed before take-off and after landing. WestJet had previously maintained that all duties were covered through a “credit hour” system rather than a traditional hourly rate.
Under the new arrangement, cabin crew will receive a 13 per cent wage boost this October, followed by a 2.75 per cent increase in January and a further 2.5 per cent rise at the start of 2028. The contract runs from 1st January 2026 through to the end of 2028.
Negotiations had been underway since January, with both sides sparring over wage demands and the union’s insistence that ground-based tasks deserved dedicated compensation. The dispute escalated into a one-day strike by approximately 4,400 cabin crew earlier this month, disrupting operations during the busy summer travel period.
At the peak of the action, WestJet was forced to cancel more than 900 flights, with the airline’s schedule only gradually returning to normal as industrial tensions eased.
WestJet Welcomes Resolution
For the airline’s leadership, the agreement represents an opportunity to draw a line under a contentious chapter and refocus on operations.
“We are pleased our cabin crew voted to ratify this agreement, one that modernises how cabin crew are compensated,” said Alexis von Hoensbroech, WestJet’s chief executive. “The ratified agreement reflects the collaborative efforts of both parties and provides a foundation for WestJet’s continued success.”
The carrier operates more than 600 flights daily and can transport in excess of 70,000 passengers on its busiest days.
The resolution at WestJet comes against a backdrop of widespread labour unrest across Canada’s aviation sector. Both Air Canada and WestJet have faced strike action from different staff groups in recent years, with mechanics and flight attendants at the country’s two major carriers briefly halting operations on separate occasions.
Why it Matters
The WestJet agreement signals a broader shift in the balance of power between airline workers and management in North America, where cabin crew and ground staff have increasingly organised to demand fairer compensation for the full scope of their duties. For passengers, the deal offers the prospect of greater stability at a time when travel demand remains robust but industrial action has become a recurring feature of the aviation landscape. With the sector navigating pilot shortages, rising fuel costs, and intense competition for skilled workers, how airlines handle their workforce relations in the coming years will prove pivotal to both service quality and commercial viability.