WestJet responds to the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) notice that it has commenced strike action as of today, June 28, 2024 at 7:30 pm ET.
“The government has officially stepped in to provide binding arbitration and ensure we get to a resolution; the only reason for this union to continue with a strike action is to create damage, disrupt the travel plans of thousands of Canadians over the July long weekend and to inflict significant costs on our business,” said Diederik Pen, President of WestJet Airlines and Group Chief Operating Officer. “Given arbitration has been ordered, a strike has no leverage on the arbitration’s outcome, so it is pure retaliation of a disappointed union. We are extremely outraged at these actions and will hold AMFA 100 per cent accountable for the unnecessary stress and costs incurred as a result.”
The airline is actively and aggressively pursuing every avenue to minimize disruption, including asking for immediate intervention by the Minister of Labour and the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB). Severe travel disruption is to be expected if the strike is not called off immediately, as the network takedown can no longer happen in the orderly manner that WestJet had originally planned.
As a result of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association’s (AMFA) decision to strike, WestJet has begun initiating significant flights cancellations for Saturday, June 29. The initial 150 flight cancellations will impact approximately 20,000 guests with limited reaccommodation options available. Additional cancellations are anticipated by Saturday morning if the strike is not called off or intervention does not happen immediately.
WestJet is actively and aggressively pursuing every avenue to minimize disruption, including asking for immediate intervention by the Minister of Labour and the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB). As previously stated, WestJet had more than 250,000 guests scheduled to fly across the long weekend.
“A strike serves no one, as this negotiation has already been referred to binding arbitration. We know how painful this is for our guests and our people; however, we must start the immediate and safe parking or our aircraft,” said Diederik Pen, President of WestJet Airlines and Group Chief Operating Officer. “The scale of this deliberate disruption is devastating and AMFA must be held accountable for their reckless actions. Without immediate intervention, significant disruption will unnecessarily harm tens of thousands of Canadians along with the entire economic ecosystem that depends on our critical air service.”
Beginning Saturday, June 29, WestJet will begin parking aircraft in stations across Canada with the intention of operating a significantly reduced schedule by end of day.
Total cancellation summary
Thursday, June 27 – Friday, June 28, 2024
- ~25 cancellations
- ~3300 guests impacted
Saturday, June 28
- ~150 cancellations
- ~20,000 guests impacted