WestJet flight attendants have officially approved a new collective agreement with an overwhelming 90.2 percent vote in favor of the deal. Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, emphasizing the significant progress achieved during negotiations. This marks the union’s second contract, securing improvements in ensuring fair compensation for members’ existing workload.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees announced that the agreement encompasses a substantial 18 percent wage increase spread over three years, along with additional compensation for ground duties. The contract entails a 13 percent wage boost effective this October, followed by increments of 2.75 percent in January and 2.5 percent at the beginning of 2028.
Despite requests for comment, the airline has not yet responded. Contract discussions, which commenced in January, witnessed disputes between WestJet and the CUPE WestJet Component regarding salary increments and allegations of uncompensated ground tasks by cabin crews. The union had persistently highlighted the issue of unpaid work during non-flight periods, while WestJet maintained that all responsibilities are remunerated through a credit hour framework rather than an hourly wage.
The freshly inked three-year agreement is operational from January 1, 2026, until December 31, 2028, following intense negotiations, particularly concerning boarding pay. The negotiations climaxed in a brief one-day strike by approximately 4,400 cabin crew members earlier this month. With over 900 flight cancellations at the peak of the summer travel season, WestJet gradually resumed its flight operations.
The aviation sector has been rocked by a series of labor disputes in recent years, including strikes by Air Canada flight attendants and WestJet mechanics, causing temporary halts in operations at the country’s major airlines. WestJet, which conducts more than 600 flights daily and serves over 70,000 passengers on certain days, has navigated through challenging labor issues to reach this collective agreement successfully.