WestJet flight attendants have approved a new collective agreement with the airline, with 90.2 percent voting in favor of the deal. Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, noting the significant progress made during negotiations. This marks the second contract for the union, with notable improvements in compensation for members’ existing workload.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees disclosed that the agreement entails an over 18 percent salary increase spread over three years and introduces compensation for ground duties. The contract stipulates a 13 percent wage hike in October, followed by increases of 2.75 percent in January and 2.5 percent at the beginning of 2028. WestJet has yet to comment on the ratified agreement.
Negotiations had been ongoing since January, with disagreements between WestJet and the CUPE WestJet Component mainly revolving around wage adjustments and claims of unpaid ground tasks by cabin crews. The union had raised concerns about uncompensated off-air duties, while WestJet maintained that all responsibilities were accounted for through a credit hour system, rather than hourly wages.
Effective from January 1, 2026, until December 31, 2028, the new three-year contract concluded following challenging discussions, especially concerning boarding remuneration, leading to a brief strike by approximately 4,400 cabin crew members earlier in the month. WestJet’s flight operations slowly resumed after encountering over 900 flight cancellations during the peak summer travel season.
The aviation sector has faced labor disruptions in recent years, with strikes by Air Canada flight attendants and WestJet mechanics causing temporary halts in operations at the country’s major airlines. WestJet, known for operating more than 600 daily flights and transporting over 70,000 passengers on busy days, continues to navigate the evolving landscape of the industry.