WestJet’s flight attendants initiated a strike early Sunday, leading to the cancellation of more than 600 flights and widespread disruption across Canadian airports during a busy holiday weekend. The work stoppage began after negotiations between the airline and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 8125 failed to resolve disputes over wages and compensation for ground duties.

CUPE 8125, which represents approximately 4,400 WestJet flight attendants, highlighted the issue of ground pay—the compensation for tasks performed before takeoff and after landing—that they say is currently unpaid. According to the union, flight attendants perform up to 35 hours of unpaid work monthly due to the absence of ground pay. In response to these concerns, WestJet unveiled a new contract proposal that included a 12 percent increase labeled as a “duty pay premium” aimed at addressing unpaid ground time, alongside annual wage increases. However, CUPE 8125 president Alia Hussain stated the offer did not meet the union’s demands.

The strike’s impact was immediately felt at airports such as Toronto Pearson International Airport, where passengers were left stranded amid cancellations and uncertainty. Nikita Joseph, a traveller from Windsor, recounted her difficulty in explaining the disruption to her young daughter while awaiting updates on her cancelled flight to Antigua and Barbuda. Passengers across the country faced similar frustrations, many seeking alternative arrangements to salvage their travel plans.

Negotiations reportedly resumed in the early hours of Sunday, with CUPE recording secretary Cameron Jones expressing hope that the bargaining committee could “close the gap” and reach a fair settlement to allow flight attendants to return to work. Picket lines were observed at major airports, including approximately 200 union members gathering outside Terminal 3 at Toronto Pearson.

This labor dispute follows a similar strike by Air Canada flight attendants last summer, also led by CUPE, centering on ground pay issues. That strike resulted in multiple days of cancellations and delays. Notably, Air Canada attendants defied a government-issued back-to-work order and conducted an unlawful strike to bring the airline back to negotiations. Although a tentative agreement was reached featuring wage increases and partial ground pay provisions, it was rejected by union members and eventually imposed by an arbitrator.

As WestJet’s strike continues, travelers and the airline alike face uncertainty over how soon a resolution might be reached to end the disruptions during a peak travel period.