Labour negotiations between WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline, and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association remain stalled after the union called a surprise strike last week, resulting in more than 400 flights being cancelled and delayed over the weekend.
The union, which represents nearly 700 aircraft engineers and technicians, went on strike Friday after negotiations over the group’s first collective bargaining agreement with the airline collapsed due to what the union called WestJet’s “refusal to negotiate.”
The strike follows talks between the union and the airline that date back to September 2023, when representatives met for an initial negotiating session. According to a memo from the association, union representatives raised concerns during the meeting, including “non-seniority leave, pay scale irregularities, and work privileges being eliminated without notice or reason.” In addition to pay increases, the union is seeking protections for certain positions and better working conditions, such as health care.
On Sunday, the union told CNN that “the parties will be separated by an economic difference of about 7% in the first year, less than $8 million.”
WestJet has repeatedly condemned the strike, which takes place over a long holiday weekend in Canada. The company says the strike will affect the plans of about 250,000 travelers. WestJet said in a statement Friday that it has requested “immediate intervention from the Minister of Labor and the Canada Industrial Relations Board.”
The airline said it had to cancel more than 410 flights between Thursday and Saturday. Data from flight tracker FlightAware showed that WestJet had canceled at least 343 flights on Sunday, representing 77% of its fleet. The airline’s regional subsidiary, WestJet Encore, canceled at least 80 flights.
Airports across Canada are also facing major service suspensions. At Calgary International Airport, 42% of outbound flights and 40% of inbound flights have been cancelled. Toronto Pearson, Vancouver and Edmonton International Airports are also affected.
But in an update to members shared with CNN on Sunday, the union announced that the labor relations council ruled the strike was legal as the council continues to mediate negotiations.
“Although the mandatory arbitration imposed by the Secretary of Labor will be implemented on an expedited basis, the CIRB has ruled that until that process is completed, we have the right to continue our legal strike,” the union said.
The Labor Relations Board did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.
The union told CNN it made its final offer to the airline on Thursday, and WestJet has not since responded or given any indication of future negotiating dates.
The union also detailed a lengthy and unproductive mediation process that took place over the weekend.
“At 1 a.m. Eastern on Saturday, June 29, after hours of waiting in a virtual breakout room, the mediators returned to inform us that WestJet executives had decided to ‘call it quits,'” the union said in its update .
Both sides and federal mediators will continue talks through Sunday.
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