WestJet flight attendants have officially approved a new collective agreement with the airline, with a resounding 90.2 percent vote in favor of the deal. The President of CUPE 8125, Alia Hussain, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that the members’ strong endorsement acknowledges the significant progress achieved during negotiations.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees revealed that the agreement entails an impressive wage increase of over 18 percent spanning three years, along with additional compensation for ground-related tasks. The deal outlines a 13 percent salary boost scheduled for October, followed by incremental raises of 2.75 percent in January and 2.5 percent at the beginning of 2028.
Notably, this marks only the second contract for the flight attendants, signifying pivotal advancements such as ensuring fair compensation for their existing workload. The agreement addresses longstanding concerns raised by the union regarding unpaid ground duties, which WestJet previously contended were accounted for through a credit hour system rather than hourly wages.
The newly ratified three-year agreement is effective from January 1, 2026, until December 31, 2028, following protracted negotiations that included a brief strike by approximately 4,400 cabin crew members earlier this month. Amidst the labor disputes, WestJet faced operational challenges, with flight disruptions peaking during the summer travel season before gradually stabilizing.
The aviation sector has witnessed a wave of labor actions in recent years, including strikes by Air Canada flight attendants and WestJet mechanics, causing temporary service disruptions at the country’s major airlines. WestJet, which operates a vast network of over 600 daily flights serving tens of thousands of passengers, has navigated through these challenges to secure a new collective agreement with its flight attendants.