WestJet flight attendants have approved a new collective agreement with the airline, with an overwhelming 90.2 percent vote in favor of the deal. Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, expressed satisfaction with the members’ strong endorsement and highlighted the significant progress achieved during negotiations.
Under the ratified agreement, the Canadian Union of Public Employees secured an 18 percent wage increase over a three-year period, along with additional compensation for ground-related tasks. The contract outlines 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.
Negotiations, which began in January, centered on wage adjustments and concerns from the CUPE WestJet Component regarding uncompensated ground duties. The union had persistently raised issues about unpaid work performed when members were not airborne, while WestJet maintained that all responsibilities were adequately compensated through a credit hour system rather than an hourly wage structure.
The newly inked three-year agreement will be effective from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2028. The deal materialized after intense discussions, notably regarding boarding pay, leading to a brief strike by approximately 4,400 cabin crew members earlier in the month. Subsequently, WestJet’s flight operations gradually resumed following over 900 cancellations during the peak summer travel season.
The aviation sector has faced labor disputes in recent years, with strikes by Air Canada flight attendants and WestJet mechanics causing temporary halts in operations at the country’s major airlines. WestJet, known for operating more than 600 daily flights and transporting over 70,000 passengers on certain days, did not immediately provide a comment on the ratified agreement.