WestJet flight cancellations hit tens of thousands of travelers

TORONTO (AP) — Canada’s second-largest airline, WestJetsaid Sunday it had canceled more than 800 flights, affecting tens of thousands of passengers, as an unexpected strike by plane mechanics entered its third day.

About 680 workers, whose daily inspections and repairs are essential to the operation of airlines, walked off the job Friday evening, despite a binding arbitration directive from the federal labor minister.

The strike takes place over the Canada Day long weekend, the country’s busiest travel week of the year.

Both the airline and the Airplane Mechanics Fraternal Association accused the other side of refusing to negotiate in good faith.

WestJet Airlines President Diederik Pen highlighted what he called “continued reckless actions” by a union making “blatant efforts” to disrupt Canadians’ travel plans, while the association said the company based in Calgary-Alberta refused to respond to his latest counter-proposal.

In an update to members on Sunday, he said mechanics were “victims of WestJet’s virulent PR campaign that you are outlaws,” citing “slander” against workers over their strike right.

The pressure tactics come after union members voted overwhelmingly to reject a tentative deal with WestJet in mid-June and after two weeks of tense negotiations between the two sides.

As time ticked down to Friday’s strike deadline, the impasse prompted Labor Minister Seamus O’Regan to intervene, demanding that WestJet and the union undertake binding labor court-led arbitration from the country.

This process generally makes it possible to avoid a work stoppage. WestJet believes this, saying the union has “confirmed that it will comply with the directive.”

“Under these conditions, no strike or lockout will take place and the airline will no longer cancel flights,” the airline said on Thursday.

The mechanics took a different view. The union’s negotiating committee said it would “comply with the minister’s order and direct its members to refrain from any illegal actions.” Less than 24 hours later, workers were on the picket lines.