WestJet said it had canceled at least 150 flights starting Saturday, affecting tens of thousands of guests, after the airline's maintenance workers' union declared a strike hours earlier.
Source: WestJet
The Aviation Machinery Association (AMFA) announced that a strike began around 5:30 p.m. on Friday due to the airline's "unwillingness to negotiate with unions and a strike is inevitable."
The move comes after the federal government issued a binding ministerial order on arbitration.
This was preceded by two weeks of intense discussions with unions about the new agreement.
Calgary-based WestJet condemned the mechanics' moves, saying it was "extremely outraged by the actions and will hold the mechanics and aerospace unions (AMFA) fully accountable for the undue pressure and expense they generate." ”
WestJet had said on Thursday that AMFA "confirmed that they will follow instructions." As a result, there will be no strikes or lockouts, and airlines will no longer cancel flights. ”
As a result, Friday's change seems to have come as a shock to travelers and executives alike.
Edmonton's Andrew Wheatley posted on the X platform: "Is my Sunday flight dangerous? ”
"I support the right of trade unions to strike when it is legal. Hopefully they can get a good deal. But at the same time, I had to go to work on Monday morning. ”
In its latest list of members, the Trade Union Bargaining Committee cited an order from the Industrial Relations Council of Canada that did not explicitly prohibit any strikes or lockouts as the tribunal conducted the arbitration on Wednesday's direction from Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan.
This isn't the first time WestJet has faced a strike crisis. Last year, on the morning of the May long weekend, airlines avoided a strike. But before that, more than 230 flights were canceled, forcing thousands of people to change their travel plans.
