Strike Begins Over Compensation Dispute
Flight attendants at WestJet Airlines took to the picket lines on Sunday after union talks with the Canadian airline collapsed. The dispute centered on compensation for groundwork — the time crews spend on the tarmac before and after flights.
Union leaders said their proposed terms would fairly compensate crew members. WestJet, however, offered terms that attendants say fall short. Alia Hussain, the union’s head, said the crew is prepared to return to negotiations once WestJet addresses their concerns.
The core of the dispute lies in the way flight attendants are paid. WestJet uses different pay systems for airborne and groundwork tasks, and cabin crews argue this results in up to 35 hours a month of unpaid labor. They want a single, fair rate that covers all their duties.
The airline said it remains committed to a negotiated resolution. WestJet took steps to ground part of its fleet ahead of the strike, following a 72-hour notice of work stoppage from the union.
WestJet's stance is being compared to industry trends. In 2022, U.S.-based Delta Air Lines became the first in its region to compensate cabin crews during boarding.