WestJet had flight attendants, represented by CUPE 8125, issue a formal notice of dispute following more than seven months of ongoing negotiations that have not produced sufficient progress on key issues. CUPE 8125 represents approximately 4,400 cabin personnel at WestJet mainline. Since serving notice to bargain last September, the union and WestJet have met multiple times each month in an effort to reach a new collective agreement.
At the centre of the dispute is a growing gap between the work flight attendants are required to perform and the outdated system that determines how that work is compensated. Flight attendants are responsible for passenger safety from the moment they report for duty, yet significant portions of that time are not fully compensated under the current system. On average, flight attendants work 35 hours every month unpaid.
The union is also seeking improvements to scheduling and basic working conditions that support a safe and sustainable operation. CUPE 8125 emphasized that its goal is to achieve a negotiated agreement and minimize any impact on travellers. The union is calling on WestJet to engage meaningfully at the bargaining table to address these concerns.
