Ratification and Key Terms
WestJet flight attendants have voted to ratify a new collective agreement, with 90.2 per cent of members approving the deal. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents the cabin crew, confirmed the outcome, marking the culmination of a bargaining process that had turned tense over issues like boarding pay.
The three-year agreement, in effect from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028, includes a wage increase of more than 18 per cent over the contract’s duration, as well as new compensation for work performed on the ground. Under the schedule reported by CUPE, workers will receive a 13 per cent raise this October, followed by a 2.75 per cent increase in January and a 2.5 per cent raise at the start of 2028.
Path to the Deal
The ratification follows a period of difficult negotiations, which were marked by a one-day strike by approximately 4,400 cabin crew earlier in August. The strike, which took place over the August long weekend and lasted less than a full day, came after bargaining talks under federal conciliation reached an impasse on July 11. According to CUPE Local 8125, which represents more than 4,400 WestJet flight attendants, 99 per cent of members voted in favour of a strike authorization.
The union had pushed for a restructuring of the compensation model, arguing that some flight attendants earned below the minimum wage because their pay was based on credit hours—compensation tied solely to flying time, which left ground duties unpaid. The strike led to more than 80 flight cancellations at Calgary International Airport and contributed to over 900 flight cancellations system-wide at the peak of summer travel. WestJet gradually restored its flight schedule after the stoppage.
A tentative agreement was announced on August 3, ending the strike. The deal included a retroactive 13 per cent wage increase effective October, along with annual raises of 2.5 per cent for three years and a new duty pay premium equivalent to a 12 per cent salary uplift.
Union Perspective
Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, described the agreement as delivering “meaningful gains” for members, pointing to the wage increases and the new ground-work compensation. She noted that the union had entered negotiations with a “strong mandate” from members seeking to address pay inequities.
The ratification vote, held over the course of a week, saw overwhelming support, with 90.2 per cent in favour. The previous collective agreement had expired at the end of 2025.
Broader Context
The WestJet flight attendant deal comes amid a series of labour actions that have disrupted Canada’s aviation sector in recent years. Strikes by Air Canada flight attendants and WestJet mechanics have briefly halted operations at the country’s two largest airlines, reflecting broader tensions over wages and working conditions in the industry.