**WestJet’s Operations Mainly Halted Due to Labor Dispute**
WestJet cabin crew members initiated a strike at 2:01 AM ET on Sunday, August 2, 2026, coinciding with one of Canada’s peak travel weekends. The union had previously issued a 72-hour strike notice earlier this week, following a 99% vote in favor of a strike mandate.
In anticipation of grounding its fleet, WestJet has begun canceling flights in recent days. Almost all mainline flights have been canceled, while the majority of those operated by regional affiliate WestJet Encore are still in the air.
According to Canadian regulations, the airline must rebook travelers on the next available flight, even if it means booking them on a different airline. However, this poses challenges, as many flights are fully booked during such a busy travel period.
WestJet asserts that it “remains at the negotiating table and is devoted to reaching a tentative agreement that acknowledges the significant contributions and professionalism of WestJet’s Cabin Crew.”
There is currently no resolution to this strike in sight. It’s important to recall the tumultuous flight attendant strike that Air Canada experienced last August, which ultimately concluded with the Canadian government mandating flight attendants return to work and mandating arbitration.
This was enacted under the authority of Canada’s Minister of Jobs and Families invoking provisions of section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, “because it is crucial to maintaining and ensuring industrial peace, protecting Canadians and fostering conditions to settle the dispute.”
**WestJet Cabin Crew Primarily on Strike Over Ground Compensation**
What has led to the strike by WestJet’s flight attendants? The airline and the union have been in contract discussions since September 2025, nearing a year of bargaining. WestJet claims that its “latest proposal was intended to be a groundbreaking, industry-leading deal for WestJet’s Cabin Crew, directly addressing the primary concerns identified by the union as priorities.”
The union’s requests mostly focus on ground pay. Traditionally, flight attendants are compensated only when the aircraft door is closed, excluding tasks like boarding. This practice is gradually changing in the industry, and it has become a crucial point of contention for the union. CUPE 8125, the union for WestJet flight attendants, has even established a website at the URL unpaidworkwontfly.ca. The union states:
> Did you know Canadian flight attendants typically work around 35 hours unpaid each month? Most airlines don’t compensate flight attendants for essential safety-related tasks like assisting passengers with special needs, responding to medical and safety situations, boarding, deplaning, and managing ground delays.
The airline highlights that flight attendants are compensated based on block hours reflecting when the aircraft door opens and closes, and that this is “the common pay structure for cabin crews throughout North America” (though this claim is no longer entirely accurate).
To be fair, the existing model for flight attendant compensation has historically provided them with a higher hourly rate compared to what they would earn if paid only for the durations they perform job duties. While this does not necessarily render it logical, the premise is that even at airlines offering boarding pay, it is typically at a lesser rate, indicative of that standard.
**Final Thoughts**
WestJet cabin crew has initiated a strike as of Sunday, resulting in the cancellation of nearly all mainline flights. In Canada, it is relatively straightforward for airline employees to go on strike, and flight attendants overwhelmingly supported this decision. Notably, Air Canada flight attendants similarly struck around the same time last year, but the government intervened to halt that action.
WestJet’s cabin crew are seeking a new contract, with the main point of contention being ground pay for tasks like boarding. If you have plans to fly with WestJet in the upcoming days, don’t anticipate that your flight will proceed as scheduled.
**What outcomes do you foresee for this WestJet flight attendant strike?**