WestJet strike averted thanks to federal government intervention, union says it will ‘comply’

A looming strike by unionized WestJet mechanics was averted thanks to federal intervention Thursday, just a day before workers walked off the job.

Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan said in a statement released on X that he had ordered the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to impose final binding arbitration “to resolve the outstanding terms of the collective agreement.”

Union workers had planned to go on strike as early as Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET, but after O’Regan’s statement, the Aircraft and Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), the mechanics’ union, said it would not there was “no modern precedent” for the minister’s actions, but that he would comply with the order. He added that he ordered his members to refrain from any illegal actions.

WestJet, in a released statement, said it had received confirmation that O’Regan had asked the CIRB to help him and AMFA reach a collective agreement.

“WestJet and AMFA will enter into final binding arbitration to resolve the outstanding terms of the collective bargaining agreement,” the statement said.

“Under these conditions, there will be no strike or lockout and the airline will no longer cancel flights.”

The move comes after WestJet began canceling flights ahead of the busy travel weekend and possible work measures.

About 25 flights were canceled Thursday and Friday, affecting about 3,300 customers, WestJet said in a news release.

WestJet said it is “ramping up operations as quickly and efficiently as possible” to resume operations and said passengers should check the status of their flight before leaving for the airport.

This week, the Calgary-based airline said it had received a second strike notice in more than a week from the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, which represents about 670 aircraft maintenance engineers and other skilled positions at the carrier.

O’Regan said he referred WestJet and AMFA to the board on June 18, but said the parties remained estranged and “tensions have only increased since last Tuesday.”

The timing of the possible pressure measures could have disrupted the travel plans of more than 250,000 customers who were due to travel over the July long weekend, the airline said.

“As we approach the July long weekend, it is particularly devastating that the strike notice we received from AMFA has forced us to begin canceling flights and parking planes, for the second time in one year. little more than a week,” Diederik Pen, president of WestJet. The airlines and the group’s chief operating officer said, ahead of the apparent resolution.

In WestJet’s statement, it said “Canadians’ summer travel plans have been protected and we have a path to resolution.”

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The AMFA had accused WestJet of suing it without informing its negotiators, who are working with the airline on a new collective agreement.

The union said WestJet’s statement that a strike would put WestJet and travellers at risk was “provocative” and is urging WestJet to spend more time negotiating with union representatives.

Union members voted overwhelmingly to reject a tentative agreement earlier this month and opposed WestJet’s request for arbitration.

Speaking to reporters in Calgary on Wednesday, WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said the airline’s maintenance engineers are already “among the highest paid in Canada,” earning an average of $109,000 a year.

Von Hoensbroech said the airline had made a “very strong” offer of a 22% pay increase after four years.

Other Canadian airlines, such as Air Canada and Porter, are not looking to add flights to their schedules in response to WestJet’s cancellations.

“We are entering the peak summer travel period and our planes are fully engaged and already quite full, so we have limited additional capacity,” Air Canada told Global News in an emailed statement Thursday.

Porter Airlines also said it is operating its full regular schedule across the country and no additional measures are being taken at this time.

WestJet also canceled dozens of flights last week before the union canceled its strike notice and resumed negotiations.

Pen, the WestJet president, said the airline remains at the negotiating table and is committed to reaching an agreement.

— with files from Ken MacGillivray of Global News and The Canadian Press

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