Ahead of the August long weekend, many Canadian travelers are reevaluating their plans as WestJet flight attendants have overwhelmingly voted in favor of a potential strike, with a resounding 99.4% majority.
Following the confirmation of the positive vote outcome on Wednesday, approximately 4,400 union members represented by CUPE Local 8125 could initiate a strike legally on August 2. According to a CUPE spokesperson, 97.3% of flight attendants took part in the voting process.
In the event of a strike by mainline flight attendants, WestJet, the second-largest airline in Canada, could face operational disruptions on August 2, just before a statutory holiday in several provinces.
Additionally, WestJet retains the option to lock out flight attendants starting on that date, irrespective of the strike mandate, as a federal “cooling off” period will have concluded by then.
Both sides are required to provide a 72-hour notice period, meaning Canadians may have to wait until the end of the month to ascertain the status of their August flights.
Negotiations between WestJet and unionized flight attendants for the airline’s mainline flights have been ongoing since late 2025. The previous agreement between the Canadian Union of Public Employees and the airline was effective from March 1, 2021, until the end of the previous year.
Acknowledging the outdated nature of the prior contract, WestJet’s CEO, Alexis von Hoensbroech, emphasized the necessity for substantial enhancements in a potential new deal.
WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech, shown in 2022, expresses openness to revising the compensation structure for flight attendants. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
Addressing the payment concerns, Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125 and a WestJet flight attendant, stressed the need for improved compensation, emphasizing the airline’s position as one of the lowest paying carriers in Canada.
CEO Highlights Compensation for Worked Hours
Similar to the previous labor dispute involving Air Canada’s flight attendants in 2025, WestJet is facing allegations from CUPE during the current contract discussions that its members are not being fairly remunerated.
John Gradek, an aviation management lecturer at McGill University, drew parallels to the Air Canada situation, indicating a lack of recognition by WestJet of changes in how its main competitor remunerates its employees.
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