Almost 50,000 passengers affected after a strike by WestJet mechanics in Canada
Published June 30, 2024 at 7:25 am
Travellers booked with WestJet this holiday weekend appear to be out of luck.
Canada’s second largest airline, WestJet, has canceled more than 400 flights affecting almost 50,000 passengers after the union of maintenance workers announced it has gone on strike.
The surprise strike affecting international and domestic flights is happening during the Canada Day long weekend. WestJet said it was “extremely outraged.
” The strike came after the federal government issued a ministerial order for binding arbitration on Thursday. That followed two weeks of turbulent discussions with the union on a new deal.
The Calgary-based company continues to point the finger of blame squarely at the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association — the union representing some 680 aircraft mechanics and tech ops.
The A-M-F-A says they had no choice when faced with WestJet’s unwillingness to negotiate a deal.
Videos
insauga's Editorial Standards and Policies advertising