Image: Kelowna International Airport via Facebook

By Pete McIntyre, VernonMatters.ca

WestJet strike averted

WestJet strike likely averted as Ottawa imposes arbitration on airline, mechanics

Jun 27, 2024 | 4:59 PM

CALGARY — A possible long-weekend strike at WestJet has been averted.

The federal government on Thursday directed the airline and plane mechanics into binding arbitration to resolve their dispute, a move all but certain to avoid a work stoppage that could otherwise have disrupted flights for hundreds of thousands of travellers over the Canada Day long weekend.

In a social media post, Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan said he was invoking his authority under the Canada Labour Code to resolve the impasse between the two sides as the clock ticked down toward a Friday evening deadline.

“Strong first agreements set unions and employers on the path of collective bargaining,” O’Regan said in a statement.

“They set a strong foundation to build upon at the bargaining table and bring the parties one step closer to a strong second agreement and an even stronger third agreement — reached at the bargaining table. That’s what we want to see here.”

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The Canada Industrial Relations Board could opt not to suspend the right to a work stoppage as it hammers out a contract, but precedent suggests that outcome is unlikely.

The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association first served the carrier with a 72-hour strike notice on June 17, prompting WestJet to cancel nearly 50 flights last week before both sides agreed to resume negotiations. The second strike notice came Tuesday amid tense negotiations over a first collective agreement between WestJet and some 680 maintenance engineers.

Union members voted overwhelmingly to reject a tentative deal earlier this month and opposed WestJet’s request for intervention by the country’s labour tribunal — a submission that triggered the union’s initial strike threat.

Just over a year ago, the airline found itself in a similar situation after some 1,800 pilots threatened to walk off the job. WestJet averted a strike after reaching a last-minute deal in the wee hours ahead of a long weekend in May, but not before cancelling more than 230 flights and disrupting the travel plans of thousands of passengers.

(The Canadian Press)

Original story

WestJet says an airplane mechanics strike over the Canada Day long weekend would disrupt travel plans for a quarter of a million customers.

The carrier has already started cancelling flights ahead of possible job action by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association.

They could walk off the job as early as 4:30 p.m. Pacific time on Friday.

WestJet has already called off about 25 trips for Wednesday and Thursday, affecting about 3,300 customers.

Sam Samaddar, Chief Executive Officer of Kelowna International Airport, told Vernon Matters back on June 19, the strike would have a significant impact on the airport.

“From what we’re hearing from WestJet is the operations here would essentially be shut down if it goes into a full blown job action,” Samaddar said, noting WestJet makes up a large portion of the airport’s daily flights.

“When you look at the overall market, WestJet flies about 60 per cent of our market share out of Kelowna, in terms of total traffic volume. So they are our principle carrier, there’s no doubt about that, out of the Kelowna market.”

(With files from The Canadian Press)