Flight attendants for Canadian airline could walk off the job before August long weekend

Some 4,400 flight attendants for a Canadian airline could walk off the job right before the August long weekend, potentially impacting travellers across Canada.

CUPE 8125, the union representing thousands of WestJet flight attendants, announced on Wednesday that members voted 99.4 in favour to give their bargaining team strike authorization.

The union could strike on Aug. 2, one day ahead of the holiday Monday and potentially leading to grounded flights and disruptions for travellers.

CUPE 8125 says that while its goal has been to achieve an agreement and minimize any impact on travellers, “this strike vote became necessary to move the process forward at the bargaining table.”

A strike vote doesn’t mean a strike will occur, but it does give members the opportunity to authorize strike action should it become necessary at a later stage of the bargaining process, the union says.

“The union continues to negotiate key issues, including wages, compensation, scheduling, work-life balance, and other workplace improvements identified by members throughout the bargaining process,” CUPE 8125 said in a statement earlier this month.

CUPE 8125 President Alia Hussain called on WestJet to return to bargaining with a new focus.

“The members of CUPE 8125 are united and determined. They voted to strike because they stand behind the bargaining priorities that they have identified, especially pay for all hours of work performed. WestJet should do the right thing and prevent travel disruptions for their passengers,” Hussain said.

The airline has been in negotiation with the union for its flight attendants on primary routes since last year, and should the strike go forward, it will mark the second summer in a row when flight attendants in Canada walked off the job.

Some 10,000 flight attendants with Air Canada went on strike last August over unpaid work hours. That three-day strike ended on Aug. 19 with the help of a federal mediator after upending thousands of customers’ travel plans.