Flight cancellations multiply as WestJet mechanics take to the picket lines

Calgary-based WestJet has cancelled more than 200 flights after the union representing its aircraft mechanics announced Friday evening that its members had set up picket lines.

The Fraternal Association of Aircraft Mechanics (AMFA) announced that its members began striking around 5:30 p.m. (French time) on Friday because “the airline’s refusal to negotiate with the union made the strike inevitable.” .

The move came after the federal government issued a ministerial order Thursday providing for binding arbitration. The order also follows two weeks of turbulent talks with the union over a new deal.

Speaking to reporters in Calgary on Saturday, WestJet president Diederik Pen said the strike is having a significant impact on Canadians, forcing them to miss weddings, vacations and family reunions.

He noted that 235 flights had already been cancelled as of Saturday morning, affecting about 33,000 guests. If there is no solution by Saturday, the airline will likely have to cancel an additional 150 flights.

The Canada Day long weekend typically sees around 70,000 guests traveling on WestJet flights. This is an increase from the 65,000 guests WestJet typically serves on weekends.

“The stress and devastation this causes is unnecessary and hurts us all,” Pen said.

“We are outraged and I just want to make sure that you can rest assured that we are doing everything we can to resolve this issue and get action.”

WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said the directive issued by Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan directing the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to impose arbitration means the negotiation process is over.

It leaves it up to an arbitrator to decide the contract rather than the two sides at the negotiating table, he said.

“This makes a strike completely absurd, because the reason you actually go on strike is because you may need to exert pressure at the negotiating table,” von Hoensbroech told reporters.

“If there’s no bargaining table, it’s meaningless, which basically means there shouldn’t be a strike.”

O’Regan issued a brief statement Saturday morning saying he was reviewing the CIRB’s order, calling it “clearly inconsistent” with the direction he has given.

“I will consider additional measures to protect the interests of the employer, the union and all Canadians travelling during this national holiday weekend,” said Mr. O’Regan.

Von Hoensbroech called the strike “a very destructive thing,” describing the AMFA as a “rogue American union” that is adopting “unusual” practices in negotiating a collective agreement.

He argued that the union’s sole aim in the strike was to disrupt as many travellers as possible.

On Thursday, the airline said AMFA had confirmed it would comply with the directive. “In view of this, there will be no strike or lockout and the airline will no longer proceed with flight cancellations.”

The change in position Friday appeared to shock travelers, who expected to board their WestJet flights Saturday but instead found themselves stranded at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.

Sukhvinder Malhotra of Kitchener, Ont., said he and his family of six — himself, his wife, two children and two elderly parents — were supposed to board a flight to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, when it was cancelled.

“I’m still here,” Malhotra said.

“I tried my best to get other contacts, but without success. Finally, this year we can’t go on vacation. We only had this time slot. »

Another passenger, Hari Karan of Vaughan, Ont., who was expecting to travel to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, with his family, expressed frustration at the cancellation.

“My kids were so happy and they’re so sad now,” Karan said. “It happened at the last minute. I’m just disappointed.”

“I was looking forward to going to the beach… now we have to go home,” said daughter Meera, eight.

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Keith Ralph, 30, of Toronto, was planning to travel to Barbados and was surprised to learn his flight was cancelled.

“I was following the news, and last time I checked yesterday (Friday), I thought it was settled but unfortunately this morning I had a surprise. I didn’t expect it to be honest.

Ralph said he was trying to get on hold or book a flight with Air Canada.

“I think twice before booking my next flight through WestJet.”

In an update to its members, the union released a letter from the board of directors regarding its decision in which it stated that the ministerial referral “does not have the effect of suspending the right to strike or lockout “.

Members of the AMFA union set up a picket line outside Terminal 3 of Toronto Pearson Airport.

“The company’s decision to stop negotiating fairly with us and go to the Minister of Labor for arbitration changed everything and unfortunately they ran out of time and we had no choice,” said Sean McVeigh, aircraft maintenance engineer at WestJet.

Meanwhile, von Hoensbroech said the union does not appear to want to negotiate.

“A week ago we received a first strike notice, then they cancelled that strike notice after we agreed to negotiate for four more days,” he said.

“On the first day, after a few hours, while we were still negotiating, they issued the next strike notice, which just shows that their only goal was to disrupt as many travelers as possible and fail to achieve a conclusion at the table.”

Jessica Burns, a professor of aviation maintenance at Centennial College, told Global News at the picket that the profession is “in a shortage crisis right now.”

“The aviation industry has known about this for a long time,” Burns said.

“It’s hard to get people into the aviation industry if they hear that the working conditions are bad, that you’re working long hours at night and that you’re getting paid very poorly.”

This isn’t the first time WestJet has been on the brink of a strike. Last year, the airline avoided a strike in the early hours of the May long weekend, but not before cancelling more than 230 flights and forcing thousands of people to change their travel plans.

On Saturday, Pen said WestJet would refund customers for their canceled flights. Some travelers may also benefit from a hotel night covered by the airline, depending on their flight.

— with information from The Canadian Press and Gabby Rodrigues, Global News