WestJet’s flight attendants have officially approved a new collective agreement with the airline, with an overwhelming 90.2 percent vote in favor of the deal. Alia Hussain, the president of CUPE 8125, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that the members’ strong support reflects the substantial progress achieved during negotiations. This marks the union’s second contract, showcasing significant advancements such as improved compensation for existing duties.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees highlighted key elements of the agreement, including a substantial wage increase of over 18 percent spread across three years and the introduction of compensation for ground-related work. The ratified contract outlines a 13 percent wage boost effective this October, followed by incremental raises of 2.75 percent in January and 2.5 percent at the beginning of 2028.
Throughout the bargaining process, which commenced in January, WestJet and the CUPE WestJet Component grappled with issues surrounding salary increments and disputes over unpaid ground responsibilities performed by cabin crews. The union had persistently raised concerns about the lack of compensation for off-flight tasks, while the airline defended its practices, arguing that all duties were accounted for under a “credit hour” system rather than an hourly wage.
The newly inked three-year agreement is in force from January 1, 2026, until December 31, 2028, following intense negotiations that included contentious discussions on boarding pay and a brief one-day strike by approximately 4,400 cabin crew members earlier in the month. WestJet’s flight operations gradually resumed post the peak summer travel period that witnessed over 900 flight cancellations.
The aviation sector in Canada has faced labor disruptions in recent years, with both Air Canada flight attendants and WestJet mechanics staging strikes that temporarily disrupted operations at the nation’s major airlines. WestJet, which operates more than 600 daily flights and serves over 70,000 passengers on peak days, has navigated through these challenges to reach a consensus with its flight attendants on the new collective agreement.