WestJet cancels hundreds of flights following surprise mechanics strike

Tens of thousands of Canadian airline passengers found themselves in dire straits Saturday after a sudden strike by unionized WestJet mechanics forced the country’s second-largest carrier to cancel hundreds of flights.

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

The move comes after the federal government issued a ministerial order Thursday providing for binding arbitration, following two weeks of tumultuous talks with the union over a new deal.

WestJet executives said at a news conference in Calgary that 235 flights had already been canceled as of midday Saturday, affecting some 33,000 passengers, with the possibility of another 150 flights being canceled by the end of the day if no solution is found to the strike.

WestJet Airlines President Diederik Pen called the strike “devastating” for passengers and the airline.

“We are outraged and I want to assure you that we are doing everything we can to resolve this problem,” Pen said.

The airline’s CEO, Alexis von Hoensbroech, placed the blame squarely on what he called a “rogue union from the United States” that was trying to establish itself in Canada.

Von Hoensbroech said that as far as the airline was concerned, negotiations with the union ended once the minister referred the dispute to binding arbitration.

“This makes the strike totally absurd, because the reason we are striking is to put pressure on the negotiating table,” he said. “If there is no negotiating table, it makes no sense, there should not be a strike. »

He added that the union had rejected a contract offer that would have made the airline’s mechanics the “highest paid in the country.”

Meanwhile, federal Labor Minister Seamus O’Regan also appeared to be struggling with the strike and its aftermath.

He issued a brief statement Saturday morning, saying he was reviewing the Canada Industrial Relations Board’s order and calling it “clearly inconsistent” with the guidance he had provided. But a new statement later in the day said he respected the authority of the council, which he stressed is independent of the government. He added that he planned to meet with both sides later on Saturday.

In an update to its 680 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 lock out.” out.”

The threat of a strike appeared to be receding on Thursday, but Friday’s surprising events appeared to shock travelers and officials.

At Toronto Pearson International Airport, WestJet passengers Samin Sahan and Samee Jan said they planned to leave Saturday with members of their extended family for a trip to Calgary that had been planned for six to eight months.

Sahan said they received emails earlier in the day saying their flight had been postponed until Monday, but they went to the terminal anyway.

“We came to the airport to talk to some agents and try to find out if there is a schedule that can align all of our family’s plans,” Sahan said. “Everyone is spread out and we have grandparents and grandchildren traveling with us, so it’s important that we all stay together during our trip.”

He said their efforts to seek clarification, combined with the strike, had left their travel plans on hold.

“This inaction is hurting a lot of people, they own their own businesses as well as their customers who will probably never be their customers again,” Sahan said.

Jan called the situation “sad.”

“I’m not very surprised, just because we heard about this strike, but… all these stories, it’s a bit sad.”

Sean McVeigh, a WestJet aircraft maintenance engineer who was protesting at Pearson Terminal 3 on Saturday, said the strike was an attempt to force the airline to return to “respectful negotiation.”

McVeigh said the union regretted any inconvenience caused to passengers.

“However, the reason they (passengers) may have missed a flight or had to cancel is because WestJet is not respectfully sitting at the negotiating table,” he said alongside about twenty other people on the picket line. “We take on a lot of responsibility and we would just like to be appreciated financially,” he said.

Earlier this month, mechanics voted overwhelmingly to reject a tentative deal with the Calgary-based airline, prompting WestJet to call for government intervention.

Gabor Lukacs, chairman of the air passenger rights group, said that as things stand, the union is taking part in a legal strike.

“I think the fault lies with management, not the union,” Lukacs said in a telephone interview. “From a management perspective, they (WestJet) have not handled it well and they need to deal with it.”

He said WestJet has an obligation under law to find alternative travel arrangements for stranded passengers within 48 hours, either through another of its flights or with a competitor.

People can also request a refund, although Lukacs said he advises against doing so.

“I strongly encourage passengers not to accept a refund unless they are absolutely certain they do not want to travel,” he said. “If you accept a refund, WestJet can wash its hands of its obligations to you. »

Pen said WestJet will follow the regulations and reimburse passengers while providing hotel nights to those who are stranded. Beyond that, he said the airline was “unable to provide any additional compensation.”

This isn’t the first time WestJet labor disputes have affected holiday weekend travel plans. The airline avoided a strike last year in the early hours of the May long weekend, but before canceling more than 230 flights and forcing thousands to change their travel plans.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 29, 2024.

– with files from Christopher Reynolds in Montreal

Keith Doucette and Rianna Lim, The Canadian Press