WestJet flight attendants have approved a new collective agreement with a 90.2 percent vote in favor of the deal. Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that the members’ strong support reflects the significant progress achieved during negotiations. This marks the union’s second contract, with notable improvements in ensuring fair compensation for their work.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees announced that the agreement encompasses an over 18 percent salary increase spread over three years, along with additional compensation for ground duties. The contract outlines a 13 percent wage boost set for October, followed by a 2.75 percent raise in January and a further 2.5 percent raise in early 2028.
WestJet has not yet provided a comment in response to the ratified agreement. Discussions surrounding the contract had been ongoing since January, with key points of contention including wage adjustments and the dispute over unpaid ground tasks by cabin crews.
The new three-year agreement is effective from January 1, 2026, until December 31, 2028, following challenging negotiations that included concerns over boarding pay, leading to a brief strike by 4,400 cabin crew members earlier this month. WestJet’s flight operations gradually returned to normal after experiencing over 900 flight cancellations during the peak summer travel season.
Labor actions in the aviation industry have been a prevailing issue, with strikes by Air Canada flight attendants and WestJet mechanics causing disruptions in the operations of the country’s major airlines in recent years. WestJet, which operates more than 600 daily flights and serves over 70,000 passengers on certain days, is now moving forward with the finalized collective agreement.
