Flight attendants at WestJet have approved a new collective agreement with the airline, achieving a 90.2 percent approval rate for the contract.
“This demonstrates a strong mandate from our members and acknowledges the significant advancements we achieved during negotiations,” stated Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, in a press release.
“This marks our second contract, and we’ve made substantial strides, including ensuring our members receive compensation for a larger portion of their work.”
The Canadian Union of Public Employees indicated that the agreement comprises an over 18 percent salary increase spread over three years, along with new compensation for ground-related tasks.
Under the contract, employees will see a 13 percent salary boost this October, succeeded by a 2.75 percent increase in January and a 2.5 percent raise at the beginning of 2028.
The airline has not yet provided a response to a request for comments.
Negotiations had been in progress since January, with WestJet and the CUPE WestJet Component clashing over salary adjustments and the cabin crews’ assertions regarding unpaid ground duties.
The union has repeatedly voiced concerns that much of the work performed while members are not airborne goes uncompensated. Conversely, WestJet contended that all responsibilities are remunerated through a “credit hour” system instead of an hourly wage.
The new three-year contract will be effective from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028.
The agreement was reached after intense negotiations, particularly concerning boarding compensation, which resulted in a one-day strike involving approximately 4,400 cabin crew members earlier this month.
Following the peak summer travel season, during which over 900 flights were canceled, WestJet’s flight schedule has been gradually restored.
The aviation sector has faced numerous labor disputes in recent years, including strikes by Air Canada flight attendants and WestJet mechanics that temporarily disrupted operations at the two largest airlines in the country.
WestJet operates over 600 flights daily, transporting more than 70,000 passengers on certain days.