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WestJet flight attendants end strike after tentative wage deal

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13

Why it matters

WestJet and the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 8125 have reached a tentative wage agreement to end a strike by the airline's 4,400 flight attendants. The work stoppage, which began after weekend negotiations collapsed, forced hundreds of flight cancellations during peak summer travel. Union spokesperson Alia Hussain and WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroeck led the talks that produced the tentative deal.

The dispute centered on compensation for ground duties—boarding, safety checks, and other work performed before departure and after landing—alongside broader wage increases. The union had pursued the strike notice through months of negotiations, timing the action to maximize pressure during the busy travel season. The specific terms of the tentative agreement have not been disclosed.

For aviation employers and labor counsel, the settlement signals that cabin crew compensation structures remain contested terrain. The dispute underscores growing union focus on compensating all duty time rather than flight hours alone—a distinction that carries significant cost implications across the industry. Attorneys advising airlines should anticipate similar demands from other crew unions and review current compensation frameworks against this emerging standard.

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