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WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline, is preparing to wind down operations ahead of a potential strike or lockout by its flight attendants.
But an agreement to gradually halt operations doesn’t mean the company is guaranteed to go through a labour dispute, as negotiations between the union and the company continue.
In a note sent to some employees and obtained by CBC News, WestJet vice-president of inflight operations Robert Antoniuk wrote the agreement between the union and the airline “is not an indication of escalation toward labour action,” despite it explicitly being an agreement on how to shut down operations in the event negotiations between the CUPE WestJet Component and the company fail.
Union representatives from CUPE told CBC News in response, “the union [members] have been clear from the start that what they want is a fair deal without a strike.”
Federal mediators remain involved with ongoing negotiations, according to federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon.
“My understanding that those talks are progressing … we’re hopeful that they reach a negotiated agreement,” said MacKinnon in Montreal on Wednesday morning.
These types of plans are required: expert
Announcing that there are contingency plans to slow down or wind down operations before a labour dispute is a sure thing is not a surprise move, according to John Gradek, former Air Canada director and current faculty lecturer in supply networks and aviation management at McGill University.
“Pre-positioning is required,” said Gradek, explaining that airlines such as WestJet need to make sure physical airplanes and crew members aren’t stuck overseas in the event of a shutdown.
WestJet flight attendants voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike over wages and working conditions as early as the August long weekend if no deal is reached, potentially throwing Canadian holiday air travel into chaos.
Either the company or the union would need to provide 72 hours’ notice of a strike or lockout, so July 30 could be the first direct confirmation the airline would have to cancel flights for thousands of passengers in the following days.
Gradek said for distant locations, such as Rome or Tokyo, that 72 hours notice might not be enough.
“They’ll start doing things tomorrow, if not later on today, start either cancelling outbound flights from Calgary to Japan. Those will be cancelled, but that’s normal in the event of a shutdown,” he said.
No cancellations, for now
WestJet has not specifically announced flight cancellations in connection with a potential labour dispute, but has offered to waive cancellation or change fees for passengers travelling between July 30 and Aug. 4, though some passengers may only receive a credit for future use with WestJet.
About 4,400 union members represented by the CUPE WestJet Component, also called Local 8125, could legally walk off the job by Aug. 2 after nearly 97 per cent of eligible flight attendants voted yes to striking. WestJet could also lock out flight attendants as of that date should it choose, regardless of the strike vote.
WestJet has been negotiating with unionized flight attendants for its primary “mainline” flights since late 2025. The previous contract between the Canadian Union of Public Employees and the airline ran from March 1, 2021, until the end of last year.
A key area of contention has been the flight attendants contention they are not compensated for every hour spent employed by the airline.
On Wednesday afternoon, a CUPE representative indicated the two sides have not come to an agreement on this point, writing, “The best way to [avoid a strike] is for WestJet to do the right thing and end the practice of unpaid work.”
‘Unpaid work’ still an issue
WestJet’s current pay system for flight attendants essentially pays them a set amount of “credit hours” that can change per flight, depending on its length. Those hours do not usually shift if takeoff is delayed, or if there are other delays on the ground such as de-icing.
The union has claimed an average of 35 hours a month are unpaid while flight attendants engage duties including assisting passengers with boarding and deplaning, or delays on the ground.
WestJet has pointed out this is a common pay model for flight attendants across North America, with CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech telling CBC News in a previous interview that “under our current contract, [flight attendants] are being paid for every hour worked.”
The airline has said to make up for additional duties during what flight attendants consider unpaid hours, the “credit hour” wage is higher than what the company would otherwise offer.
But it remains a major bone of contention for CUPE, which also famously struck against Air Canada in 2025 over what the union deemed “unpaid work” at that airline. A combination of government intervention, binding arbitration and negotiation led to an agreement where some time worked on the ground is now paid at a lower rate to Air Canada flight attendants.
WestJet last experienced a major labour dispute in the summer of 2024, when unionized airline mechanics went on strike over the Canada Day long weekend, affecting tens of thousands of travellers.
