WestJet’s flight attendants have approved a new collective agreement with an overwhelming 90.2 percent vote in favor. Alia Hussain, the president of CUPE 8125, expressed satisfaction with the significant progress achieved during negotiations. The deal, which marks the union’s second contract, secures improved compensation for members’ existing workload.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees disclosed that the agreement entails an 18 percent wage increase spread over three years, along with additional remuneration for ground-related tasks. The contract stipulates a 13 percent salary boost in October, followed by 2.75 percent in January and 2.5 percent at the beginning of 2028.
Despite requests for comments, the airline has not yet responded. Talks on the contract had been ongoing since January, focusing on wage adjustments and disputes over unpaid ground duties claimed by cabin crews. The union had persistently raised concerns about uncompensated work during non-flight hours, while WestJet justified its practices by citing a “credit hour” compensation system.
The new three-year agreement is effective from January 1, 2026, until December 31, 2028. The negotiations, particularly concerning boarding pay, led to a brief strike by approximately 4,400 cabin crew members earlier in the month. Following this labor action, WestJet’s flight operations gradually resumed after encountering over 900 cancellations during the peak summer travel season.
Labour disputes have periodically disrupted the aviation sector, with strikes by Air Canada flight attendants and WestJet mechanics causing operational halts at the country’s major airlines. WestJet, which operates a substantial daily flight volume, serves over 70,000 passengers on certain days.