WestJet cancels 81 flights ahead of Sunday strike deadline

WestJet cancels 81 flights ahead of Sunday strike deadline

Travellers are likely on the edge as the airline starts its first round of flight cancellations

Some travellers are heading into the long weekend on edge, as WestJet begins its first round of cancellations ahead of a possible strike by flight attendants.

The airline announced early Saturday morning that 81 of the day's scheduled flights have been scrubbed.

The company says the move is meant to prevent crew and passengers from getting stranded, and travellers should check their flight status before leaving for the airport.

If a deal is not reached by Sunday morning, either side could begin a work stoppage that would cancel hundreds of flights during a long weekend for much of the country.

WestJet parks planes ahead of possible flight attendants' strike

WestJet says it is continuing to bargain with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents 4,400 flight attendants, in the hope of reaching an agreement on a new contract.

The union triggered a 72-hour strike notice that ends just after midnight Sunday in Calgary, where WestJet is headquartered, and the airline responded with a lockout notice on the same timeline.

That strike notice doesn't commit flight attendants to taking job action but has proved worrisome for passengers who are left in limbo, unsure whether or not their flights will take off this weekend.

WestJet begins parking its 737 aircraft across its network ahead of possible work stoppage| Heydari

In emails obtained by CBC News, WestJet said it had put forward what it believes is the best agreement it could responsibly offer.

That includes what the company claims is a union proposal "for compensation before and after flights through duty premium payments," which would be included in what WestJet describes as a cumulative wage increase of about 36 per cent over four years.

WestJet passengers scramble after flight attendants give strike notice

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The company also says it offered scheduling improvements and better provisions for things like travel and hotels while flight attendants are away from home, according to one of the internal WestJet emails viewed by CBC News.

"The offer would have represented a significant step forward not only for WestJet cabin crew, but for the Canadian airline industry as a whole," one of the emails reads in part.

The union representing flight attendants told CBC News that the proposals don't go far enough.

How can air passengers take labour issues into consideration when booking flights?

"We aren’t just bargaining a few things, we are seeking a comprehensive contract that reflects the priorities of our members," CUPE WestJet Component president Alia Hussain said in an email.

Hussain added that while some progress has been made toward reaching a deal, there are issues remaining that "need to be resolved at the table."

"We are hopeful that we can still avoid a strike and remain committed to resolving this there."

With files from Abby Hughes and Anis Heydari