WestJet cancels hundreds of flights amid union strike dispute
(MENAFN) WestJet, Canada's second-largest airline, has faced significant disruptions after the Fraternal Association of Aircraft Mechanical Workers initiated a strike affecting 407 flights and impacting approximately 49,000 passengers. The strike, which began Friday evening, was declared by the union due to what it termed WestJet's refusal to engage in meaningful negotiations, forcing their hand despite the federal government's intervention.
The surprise strike has resulted in widespread consequences for both international and domestic flights, creating turmoil during a period that includes Canada Day celebrations. The airline, which operates around 200 aircraft, has expressed its intention to maintain grounded flights throughout the long weekend.
Alexis von Honsbroich, WestJet's CEO, criticized the union's decision to strike after the government had intervened with a binding arbitration order following contentious negotiations over a new labor agreement. Von Honsbroich attributed the strike to external pressures, describing them as a "rogue consortium from the United States" attempting to disrupt operations in Canada.
The CEO emphasized that WestJet considered negotiations concluded once the arbitration process was initiated, rendering the strike, in his view, unnecessary and ineffective. He highlighted that the airline had made a generous contract offer aimed at making its mechanics among the highest paid in the country, a proposal the union had rejected.
The situation underscores ongoing challenges in labor relations within Canada's aviation sector, with implications not only for WestJet's operational continuity but also for the broader travel industry impacted by the sudden cancellation of numerous flights.
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