WestJet strike: Vancouver sees dozens more cancellations

Dozens of WestJet flights to and from Vancouver International Airport were canceled Sunday as the airline’s mechanics strike continues.

According to the airline’s flight status page, 46 departures were canceled, as were 46 others. A labor dispute between the airline and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association escalated Friday, just as the Canada Day long weekend began.

Across Canada, the airline has canceled more than 400 flights, affecting approximately 50,000 travelers. Anyone planning to fly out of Vancouver with WestJet arrived to check the status of their flight before heading to the airport.

In an update Saturday evening, WestJet’s chief operating officer said “all avenues of resolution are being explored,” while sharply criticizing the union.

“Today has been an incredibly difficult day for all of us at WestJet. Every flight cancellation we are forced to make represents hundreds of guests who are impacted by the continued reckless actions of this union,” Diederik Pen said in an online update.

“In the face of immense adversity, our teams are working hard and ensuring a safe and controlled operation. »

By Sunday evening, the statement said, the air fleet will be reduced to around 30 aircraft.

The travel disruptions come after members of the Fraternal Association of Aircraft Mechanics walked off the job Friday afternoon, saying “WestJet’s refusal to negotiate with the union made the strike inevitable.”

The action follows two weeks of tense negotiations, which led the federal government to step in and force WestJet and the union into binding arbitration.

AMFA management published a letter from the Canada Industrial Relations Board regarding its decision in which it states that the ministerial referral “does not have the effect of suspending the right to strike or lockout.”

Federal Labor Minister Seamus O’Regan said online on Saturday that he had met with both parties.

“I met with WestJet and AMFA this evening. I told them that they needed to work together with the Canada Industrial Relations Board to resolve their differences and reach their first agreement. The stakes are high. Canadians need this situation resolved,” he wrote.

With documents from The Canadian Press