Summary
- WestJet has begun to store plans in anticipation of a strike by its maintenance technicians.
- The measure should result in 40 canceled flights, affecting around 6,500 customers.
- The airline and the union have exchanged allegations over the working conditions and safety related to its maintenance operations.
WestJet is taking pre-emptive action as its maintenance technicians are planning a strike, forcing the airline to park some of its aircraft on June 18 and June 19, 2024. In total, the Canadian airline has planned to cancel 40 flights, which should affect around 6,500 passengers.
Referring to arbitration
WestJet Group, comprised of WestJet and WestJet encore, announced that it would cancel 40 flights on June 18 and June 19, affecting approximately 6,500 travelers during the two-day labor action by employees at WestJet Aircraft Maintenance Engineers and Tech Ops.
The Canadian airline explained that it had begun parking aircraft in a safe and organized manner during the period, enabling its proactive communication with customers and flight crews to minimize the potential of those stakeholders being stranded at an airport.
Photo: CSWFoto | Shutterstock
The carrier made the decision to cancel the flights as it has been awaiting a response from the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), which should intervene according to the Canada Labor Code.
If the CIRB accepts WestJet’s petition, the airline and its maintenance technicians, represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), will be referred to arbitration. During the arbitration, both parties would have to accept a collective labor agreement, which would prevent labor action by either WestJet or AMFA.
Related
WestJet Encore Pilots Ratify New 5-Year Contract
After some tough negotiations, WestJet Encore and its pilots have reached an agreement that promises peace and cooperation for five years.
Contingency plan
Diederik Pen, president and chief operating officer (COO) of WestJet Group, said that the airline was disheartened that it was forced to activate its contingency plan and begin parking aircraft due to AMFA’s strike notice.
“We deeply regret the disruption this will have on the travel plans of our guests, communities and businesses that rely on our critical air service.”
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
The COO detailed that after the union rejected “a generous tentative agreement,” which would have made its Maintenance Engineers and other Tech Ops employees the highest-paid in Canada, it was clear that the negotiation process had broken down.
Related
Going & Growing: A Look At WestJet’s Record 15 Summer Routes To Europe & Asia
Almost a decade has passed since WestJet first flew to Europe.
Disturbing safety trend
Meanwhile, AMFA issued the latest update, including WestJet’s submission to the CIRB. According to the union, the airline alleged that the deterioration of its maintenance operations posed irreparable harm to the public.
“A more troubling statistic cited by WestJet, relative to the decline in the airline’s maintenance standards, is the dramatic growth of aircraft operating with Minimum Equipment Lists (MELs) identifying inoperable equipment on planes operating in revenue service. In May 2023, WestJet’s fleet operated with 101 MELs.”
In addition, WestJet presented data that indicated that the airline’s aircraft on ground (AOG) had grown by 96% to 277 aircraft between May 2023 and May 2024. In terms of MELs, in May 2023, there were 101 aircraft with MELs, and by May 2024, this had grown to 257.
Photo: Welshboy2020 | Shutterstock
The union pushed back, saying that the safety of commercial aircraft operations depends on redundant systems. However, the current state of WestJet flight operations has reflected the peeling back of essential layers of safety, with the union adding that while de jure, the aircraft are airworthy, the airline has been flying passengers with aircraft a lower level of safety in a trend that was “disturbing.”
Related
WestJet Applies To USDOT To Place Condor Code On Flights To 8 US Airports
A DOT filing might have revealed that WestJet and Condor are planning a codeshare agreement for flights from Canada to the US.
Understaffed maintenance operations
AMFA also pointed out that WestJet had admitted that its maintenance operations were understaffed during negotiations with the union. According to the labor collective, WestJet admitted that it was unable to fill open job slots “at the sub-market wages it is currently paying to its Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs).”
However, despite the labor challenges, WestJet has been concentrating on increasing its capacity through aggressive growth and fleet expansion, including buying some of Lynx Air’s aircraft. The latter airline went bust in February 2024.
Photo: sockagphoto | Shutterstock
“If WestJet were to realize its misguided goals, it would have very few AMEs left and the pressure to increase the volume of aircraft operating in revenue with inoperable equipment would be immense.”
The union cited a comedic reference, namely a slogan that read, “The beating will continue until morale improves.” According to AMFA, whatever the context, the policy was wrong, and in aviation, where safety is above all, it was “unconscionable.”
Related
WestJet 737 MAX Experiences Hydraulic Issues Leading To Engine Shutdown
The aircraft had to divert and return to its origin airport due to the occurrence.