Summary

  • WestJet and its maintenance technicians are going back to the negotiation table after the union rescinded its strike notice.
  • However, the union, Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), has accused WestJet of violating the workers’ rights to strike to improve their working conditions.
  • On June 20, the airline has planned to cancel 13 flights.

A day after WestJet announced that it would begin parking aircraft and canceling around 40 flights due to a strike by its Aircraft Maintenance Engineers and Tech Ops employees, both sides have returned to the negotiating table after the Canadian officials asked for more time to review documents required for arbitration.

Resolution via arbitration

On June 18, WestJet announced that it contacted the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), requesting arbitration for its negotiations with its maintenance employees, represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA).

However, on June 19, WestJet disclosed that the CIRB stated that it will need more time to decide whether or not the collective bargaining agreement would have to be resolved via arbitration, with the board requiring more documents from both sides.

WestJet Boeing 737-800

Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying

Still, AMFA rescinded its strike notice, and the union and the airline will now return to the negotiations table. In an operational update on June 19, WestJet detailed that it would have to cancel 18 flights on that day as well as 13 flights on June 20, affecting around 6,500 customers throughout its network.

Related

WestJet Cancels 40 Flights Ahead Of Maintenance & Tech Ops Strike

While WestJet said that its offer was generous, its maintenance technicians’ union said that there were problems inside the airline.

Assaulting workers’ rights

In a statement issued on June 19, AMFA pointed out that the Canadian Constitution outlined that workers’ right to strike to improve their working conditions was “sacred,” which was now being assaulted by WestJet.

“Having threatened its AMEs with an imminent lockout, the Company is now asking the CIRB to issue an injunction barring us from responding in kind.”

Nevertheless, while initially, AMFA said that WestJet had refused to return to negotiations on June 19 and June 20 and that it would file charges with the CIRB over the airline’s refusal to negotiate, the two sides have begun negotiating once again.

WestJet Boeing 737 MAX On The Ground In Calgary

Photo: Welshboy2020 | Shutterstock

Still, Diederik Pen, the President of WestJet and chief operating officer (COO) of WestJet Group, said that the airline had appreciated its passengers’ patience during a time of flight disruptions. Pen added that WestJet was committed to finding a resolution with its maintenance employees to avoid further operational disruptions.

Related

WestJet Launches Boeing 737 MAX Service Connecting Calgary to Iceland

WestJet has seven transatlantic connections now it has launched direct flights from Calgary to Reykjavik in Iceland.

Relatively few canceled flights

As WestJet has outlined in its latest update, the airline had to cancel 18 and 13 flights on June 19 and June 20, respectively. Meanwhile, data from the aviation analytics company Cirium showed that in June, the airline has scheduled 564 flights and 579 flights on Wednesdays and Thursdays, respectively.

Westjet Boeing 737-800

Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

On June 20, out of the 13 flights that WestJet canceled, seven flights were scheduled to land at Calgary International Airport (YYC), three at Edmonton International Airport (YEG), one at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), Vancouver International Airport (YVR), and Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) each.

Related

WestJet Adds 15% More Flights In 2024 Summer Schedule

WestJet is gearing up for a busy Summer this year by adding around 15% more capacity than it operated for summer 2022.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *