WestJet’s flight attendants have approved a new collective agreement with an overwhelming 90.2 percent vote in favor. In a press statement, Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, expressed satisfaction with the strong support from members and the significant progress achieved during negotiations. The Canadian Union of Public Employees highlighted key features of the agreement, such as an 18 percent salary increase spread over three years and additional compensation for ground duties.
Under the terms of the contract, employees will see a 13 percent raise in October, followed by incremental increases of 2.75 percent in January and 2.5 percent at the beginning of 2028. The agreement, effective from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2028, marks the second contract between the parties. The negotiations, which began in January, mainly revolved around wage adjustments and disputes over compensation for off-flight work.
The resolution of the negotiations, including contentious issues like boarding pay, came after a brief strike by approximately 4,400 cabin crew members. Following the labor action, WestJet’s flight operations gradually returned to normal levels after facing over 900 cancellations during the peak summer travel season. This development in the airline industry comes amid a backdrop of labor disputes, with recent strikes affecting major carriers like Air Canada and WestJet.
With a daily operation of more than 600 flights and the transportation of over 70,000 passengers on busy days, WestJet remains a significant player in the aviation sector.
