Calgary, AB – Flight Attendants at WestJet, represented by CUPE 8125, have issued 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At the centre of the dispute is a growing gap between the work flight attendants are required to perform and the outdated system that determines how that work is compensated.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.
“Flight attendants are performing increasingly demanding work in a safety-sensitive environment, and we are some of the lowest paid in Canada”, said Alia Hussain, President of CUPE 8125. “The system that governs our compensation was built for a different time, and it no longer reflects the value of work being done today.”
The union is also seeking improvements to scheduling and basic working conditions that support a safe and sustainable operation.
“Flight attendants have remained patient and professional throughout this process, but delays cannot continue,” Hussain added. “We are looking for meaningful progress at the table on issues that affect our members and their ability to provide reliable service for our guests.”
CUPE 8125 emphasized that its goal is to achieve a negotiated agreement and minimize any impact on travellers.
“We understand how important travel is, particularly as we approach the busy summer season,” said Hussain. “Our focus is on securing a fair and sustainable agreement that reflects the realities of the job and the value of the work being done every day.”
The union is calling on WestJet to engage meaningfully at the bargaining table to address these concerns.