Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): WestJet and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) have reached a tentative agreement, bringing an end to a strike that disrupted hundreds of flights and created major travel uncertainty during the peak summer vacation season.
The agreement between WestJet and CUPE, which represents approximately 4,400 flight attendants at the Calgary-based airline, was reached early Monday after a brief but disruptive work stoppage.
The key issue behind the dispute was flight attendants’ demand to be paid from the time they report for duty until they finish their shifts, rather than primarily being compensated only for time when the aircraft is in the air.
The strike forced the cancellation of numerous flights, leaving passengers across Canada and international destinations stranded, scrambling for alternate arrangements and facing delays during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
Both sides said the tentative agreement will end the work stoppage, but the deal still requires approval from CUPE members before becoming final.
Passengers are now waiting for flight operations to return to normal as WestJet works to restore its schedule following the disruption.
