WestJet cancels 81 flights ahead of Sunday strike deadline
WestJet has cancelled 276 flights as a strike deadline approaches for its cabin crew, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees. The airline and the union remain in negotiations, with both sides having issued strike and lockout notices.
Why it matters
The potential work stoppage threatens to disrupt travel for thousands of passengers during a major holiday weekend in Canada.
The airline announced that a total of 276 flights have been cancelled as of 3 p.m. MT on Saturday. The company says the move is meant to prevent crew and passengers from getting stranded, and travellers should check their flight status before leaving for the airport.
"This action is in response to the union’s notice to strike and the inability to reach an agreement. WestJet’s most recent proposal was designed to be a transformative, industry-leading agreement for WestJet's cabin crew, and directly addressed the key issues the union identified as its priorities," a WestJet spokesperson said in a statement.
The union representing the flight attendants has said the proposal didn't address all of their concerns.
If a deal is not reached by Sunday morning, either side could begin a work stoppage that would cancel hundreds of flights during a long weekend for much of the country.
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