WestJet flight attendants to end strike after reaching tentative wage deal

Flight attendants with WestJet, Canada’s second-largest airline, went on strike in a dispute over pay.

The union representing flight attendants at Canada’s WestJet reached a tentative deal with the country’s second-largest carrier on Monday, ending a strike that led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights in the busy summer season.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents 4,400 flight attendants at the carrier, sought pay for its members from the time they check in until they clock out, instead of mostly just for time when their aircraft is in motion.

WestJet did not disclose details of the tentative agreement, which will now be presented to cabin crew members for a ratification vote. The union said it would share details of the agreement with its members ahead of the vote.

“This tentative agreement represents meaningful progress. It evolves the flight credit system by recognizing more of the work cabin crew are required to perform and with general increases to compensation for that work,” the union’s president, Alia Hussain, said.

Attendants at the airline, which has a domestic market share of 30%, had gone on strike on Sunday after talks fell through.