WestJet flight attendants have approved a new collective agreement with an overwhelming 90.2% majority vote. The President of CUPE 8125, Alia Hussain, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, citing significant progress achieved during negotiations.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees revealed that the deal entails an 18% salary increase spread over three years, along with additional compensation for ground duties. The agreement outlines a phased wage hike, starting with a 13% raise in October, followed by increments of 2.75% in January and 2.5% in the beginning of 2028.
The airline has not yet provided a response to the ratified agreement. Talks between WestJet and the CUPE WestJet Component had been ongoing since January, focusing on wage adjustments and disputes regarding unpaid ground tasks by cabin crews.
Under the new three-year contract effective from January 1, 2026, until December 31, 2028, negotiations faced challenges, specifically concerning boarding compensation, which led to a brief strike by approximately 4,400 cabin crew members earlier this month. Following the strike, WestJet’s flight operations gradually resumed after experiencing over 900 flight cancellations during the peak summer travel season.
Labour unrest has impacted the aviation sector in recent years, with strikes by Air Canada flight attendants and WestJet mechanics causing disruptions in operations at the country’s major airlines. WestJet currently operates a robust daily flight schedule, serving more than 70,000 passengers on busy days.