WestJet cancels flights ahead of long weekend after 2nd strike notice

for the second time in as many weeks WestJet is cancelling flights the Calgary based Airline says the union representing its aircraft mechanics served up another strike notice and this comes just ahead of the Canada dayong weekend and the July 4th national holiday in the US WestJet CEO says this timing is strategic this time they served it in a way that is designed to disrupt as many travel plans of Canadians it might be an inconvenience for sure you got work and commitment in that but I also understand that um it’s part of the due process if we heard about them ahead of time we would certainly try to avoid those those connections and those Airlines WestJet says a quarter million people are booked to travel with the airline this long weekend so far 25 flights have been canceled between Thursday and Friday directly affecting about 3,300 customers just last week WestJet canel around 50 flights ahead of an expected walk out that was averted when bargaining resumed you value all mechanics there do a tremendous job and we PID them well and we have made them given them a industry leading offer which uh looks at a increase for their for their overall pay of 22% over 4 years WestJet CEO says the average salary for a WestJet mechanic is around $19,000 Union spokesperson Scott kristopherson says members voted overwhelmingly to reject a tentative deal earlier this month what has inflation been over the last four or 5 years I’m not like it’s hard for us we worked 3 65 days a year 24/7 we get no night shift premium all we want is a decent living wage for the amount of responsibilities that we take cuz as of right now an aircraft cannot leave the ground without us saying it’s safe and fit for flight flights affected so far are mainly in North America and the Caribbean WestJet Travelers are advised to check the status of their flight before heading to the airport an gaviola Global News Toronto

WestJet Airlines has begun preemptively cancelling flights once again on Thursday, after a union representing its maintenance engineers rejected a new pay offer and served a second strike notice.

The Calgary-based airline says 250,000 people are booked to travel with the company this long weekend. So far, 25 flights have been cancelled between Thursday and Friday, affecting about 3,300 customers.

Just last week, WestJet cancelled around 50 flights ahead of an expected walkout that was averted when bargaining resumed.

Global’s Anne Gaviola has more on the current and potential disruption of a strike that could begin as early as 5:30 p.m. MT on Friday, ahead of one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

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