WestJet flight attendants set strike vote results for Wednesday

About 4,400 unionized WestJet flight attendants will learn Wednesday whether they approved a strike that could begin Aug. 2. A yes vote would end a federal cooling-off period and allow either side to halt operations after 72 hours' notice. WestJet has been negotiating a new contract with the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 8125 since late 2025.

The prior agreement expired at the end of 2025 after running from March 2021.

Pay structure dispute The union says flight attendants perform an average of 35 unpaid hours each month for boarding, deplaning, and ground delays. It posted sample May and June schedules showing some shifts paid below the federal minimum wage of $18.15 per hour.

WestJet maintains that attendants receive credit-hour pay calibrated to cover those duties and released a nine-month audit of 40 attendants that found only four instances below minimum wage, which it attributed to employee schedule changes.

Bargaining status WestJet chief executive Alexis von Hoensbroech said the airline is open to revising the credit-hour system if changes remain financially sustainable. CUPE Local 8125 president Alia Hussain said the union remains available for talks around the clock.

Flight attendant Cameron Jones, a member of the local executive, said the lack of movement after ten months of bargaining prompted the strike vote. The sides have agreed on 32 contract articles and continue work on 35 others. WestJet last faced a major labour stoppage in summer 2024 when mechanics struck over the Canada Day weekend.