WestJet strike ends after tentative agreement with cabin crew union
WestJet strike ends with tentative agreement with cabin crew union; deal pauses walkout and offers pay and duty-hour changes pending ratification.
WestJet and the union representing its cabin crew reached a tentative agreement Monday that has halted the WestJet strike and stopped further network-wide disruptions. The airline and the union said the deal will be presented to members for a ratification vote, while teams work to restore scheduled flights. Company and union leaders described the outcome as a meaningful step toward addressing pay and unpaid ground-work concerns that triggered the walkout.
Tentative agreement ends WestJet strike
The tentative accord brings an immediate end to the labour stoppage that began overnight into Sunday and forced mass cancellations across the carrier’s network. WestJet’s chief executive, Alexis von Hoensbroech, said the company and its cabin crew had negotiated in good faith to reach a constructive solution. The carrier added that operational recovery would begin as soon as it is safe and practicable to return aircraft and crews to normal service.
Key financial terms and wage schedule
Under the announced terms, the airline has offered a multi-year wage package that begins with a 13 percent increase in the first year, effective October 1, 2026. That initial raise is followed by annual increases of 2.5 percent for each of the next three years, senior union and company spokespeople said. WestJet also described an additional compensation component tied to hours of service that the airline says represents roughly a further 12 percent uplift in effective earnings for affected duties.
Paid duty hours and flight credit changes
A central grievance that prompted the strike was unpaid or under-compensated ground duties performed before and after flights. The tentative deal includes adjustments to how duty hours and flight credits are calculated, with the union saying the revised system recognizes a larger share of the work carried out by cabin crew. Both sides framed the change as an important shift toward compensating time spent on pre-flight and post-flight tasks that previously fell outside paid flying time.
Operational disruption and cancellations
The walkout affected thousands of scheduled services over the weekend and into Monday, with the flight-tracking service FlightAware recording more than 490 WestJet cancellations on Sunday alone. Toronto Pearson International Airport noted on social media that flights scheduled to depart there on Monday morning remained suspended while recovery plans were put in place. WestJet said it will provide further operational updates as teams reassign crews and reposition aircraft to meet booked itineraries.
Union reaction and ratification vote
Local leadership for the union representing WestJet flight attendants described the agreement as “significant progress” and urged members to review the full text before voting. The union will convene membership ballots on the tentative deal; only after ratification will the terms be finalized and implemented. Union officials said they expect the ratification process to take several days and urged members and passengers to watch for official notices about scheduling and reinstated services.
Government response and industry comparisons
Federal labour officials played a facilitative role, and Employment Minister Patty Hajdu publicly welcomed the negotiated resolution, thanking both parties and the federal mediation service for their work. Observers noted that the package is broadly comparable to settlements seen elsewhere in Canada’s airline sector, including pay and paid-duty changes secured by other carrier workforces following labour actions in recent years. Industry analysts said the settlement may set further expectations for how Canadian carriers and cabin crews handle compensation for non-flying duties going forward.
As WestJet moves to restore flights and brief its customers, the immediate focus will be on crew scheduling and communicating revised itineraries to affected travellers. The union’s ratification vote will determine whether the tentative agreement becomes binding, and both sides have signalled they want to avoid any return to disruptive labour action. Passengers with disrupted travel plans should monitor WestJet communications for the latest rebooking and refund information while recovery continues.
