WestJet Cancels 81 Flights in Advance of Strike Deadline
by Bruce Parkinson
.WestJet has added Winnipeg as a gateway to Belize.
WestJet announced early Saturday morning that 81 August 1 scheduled flights have been cancelled in advance of a 2:00 am ET Sunday strike/lockout deadline.
“To help maintain the reliable operation of our flight network and minimize the risk of stranding our guests, we have begun reducing our schedule and cancelling select flights. These actions allow us to notify affected guests as early as possible,” the airline said on its website.
“We sincerely regret the disruption, uncertainty, and inconvenience this situation may cause.”
If a deal is not reached by midnight MT (Calgary time), either side could begin a work stoppage that would cancel hundreds of flights during what is a three-day holiday weekend for much of the country.
CBC News reports that it has obtained emails where WestJet states that it has made the best offer it can “responsibly” make.
The emails describe a cumulative wage increase of about 36% over four years, plus a clause “for compensation before and after flights through duty premium payments.”
The company says it offered scheduling improvements and hotel enhancements for when flight attendants are away from home, according to one of the internal WestJet emails viewed by CBC News.
“The offer would have represented a significant step forward not only for WestJet cabin crew, but for the Canadian airline industry as a whole,” one of the emails reads in part.
However, the CUPE union representing flight attendants told CBC that the proposals don’t go far enough.
