WestJet flight attendants have approved a new collective agreement with an overwhelming 90.2 percent vote in favor. Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that the members’ strong support signifies the significant progress achieved during negotiations. The agreement, which marks the second contract for the union, entails substantial improvements, including fair compensation for additional responsibilities.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees revealed that the deal encompasses an 18 percent wage increase spread over three years, along with a provision for compensating ground duties. The new contract will see a 13 percent salary boost in October, followed by 2.75 percent in January and a further 2.5 percent raise at the beginning of 2028.
Following months of discussions that began in January, WestJet and the CUPE WestJet Component have resolved differences regarding wage adjustments and the dispute over unpaid ground tasks performed by cabin crews. The union had persistently raised concerns about the lack of compensation for off-flight duties, while WestJet contended that all tasks are accounted for through a credit hour system rather than hourly wages.
Effective from January 1, 2026, until December 31, 2028, the newly agreed three-year contract resulted from challenging negotiations, particularly concerning boarding pay, which led to a brief strike by around 4,400 cabin crew members earlier this month. Subsequently, WestJet’s flight operations gradually resumed normalcy after experiencing over 900 flight cancellations during the peak summer travel period.
The airline industry has faced disruptions due to various labor actions in recent years, with both Air Canada flight attendants and WestJet mechanics staging strikes that temporarily halted operations at Canada’s major carriers. WestJet, known for operating more than 600 daily flights and serving over 70,000 passengers on certain days, navigated through the challenges to reach this pivotal collective agreement.