WestJet has started canceling flights as the airline reacts to its Aircraft Maintenance Engineers and other Technical Operations employee’s plan to go on strike as of Friday, June 28, 5:30 p.m. MT. This action ensures the airline can safely park its aircraft in a controlled manner while enabling proactive communication and preventing the stranding of WestJet’s guests and crew.
WestJet has presented the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) with a Canadian industry-leading agreement better suited than the previously rejected tentative agreement. Just hours into day one of a mutually agreed to four-day bargaining period, the union served a strike notice. This timing could disrupt the travel plans of more than 250,000 guests scheduled to travel over the July long weekend and appears to be an attempt to force an unreasonable contract.
“As we quickly approach the July long weekend, it is especially devastating that the strike notice we have received from AMFA forces us to begin cancelling flights and parking aircraft, for the second time in just over a week. As we are forced to make this painful decision, every one of us at WestJet feels the immense weight of the impact this will have on each of our guests and the communities we serve, counting on us to fulfill their travel plans this weekend,” said Diederik Pen, President of WestJet Airlines and Group Chief Operating Officer.
In the coming 48-hours the WestJet Group will work to park aircraft, in a measured, phased and safe approach, resulting in the following cancellations.
(eTN)| re-post license | post content