Canada’s second-largest airline, WestJet, canceled at least 235 flights on Saturday, affecting 33,000 passengers, following a strike by its maintenance workers’ union.
The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association initiated the strike Friday evening, citing the airline’s “unwillingness to negotiate” as the cause. This strike followed a federal ministerial order for binding arbitration on Thursday, after two weeks of tense negotiations.
WestJet executives warned during a news conference in Calgary that an additional 150 flights could be canceled if the walkout continued. CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech criticized the strike, attributing the turmoil to a “rogue union from the U.S.” trying to gain influence in Canada. He argued that the strike was irrational given the government-mandated arbitration, saying, “If there is no bargaining table it makes no sense, there shouldn’t be a strike.”
Von Hoensbroech claimed the union had rejected an offer that would have made WestJet’s mechanics the highest paid in the country. The surprise strike disrupted both international and domestic flights during the Canada Day long weekend.
The union referenced an order by the Canada Industrial Relations Board, which does not explicitly prohibit strikes or lockouts during arbitration. Sean McVeigh, a WestJet aircraft maintenance engineer picketing at Toronto Pearson International Airport, emphasized that the strike aimed to force the airline back to “respectful negotiation.” He expressed regret for passenger inconvenience but blamed WestJet’s reluctance to negotiate respectfully.
Passengers like Samin Sahan and Samee Jan, who had planned a family trip to Calgary, found their travel plans thrown into disarray. Despite receiving rescheduling emails, they went to the terminal seeking clarification. Sahan expressed frustration, saying, “This inaction is hurting a lot of people, their own company as well as their customers who will likely no longer be their customers ever again.”
