Key facts
- WestJet flight attendants voted to accept a tentative agreement.
- The deal provides a wage increase of over 18% spread across three years.
- Cabin crews will receive new compensation for work performed on the ground.
- The agreement follows a strike that caused hundreds of flight cancellations.
- Additional benefits include increased time off and higher allowances for food and uniforms.
WestJet flight attendants have voted to accept a tentative agreement, ending a strike that led to hundreds of flight cancellations. The deal, reached with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), includes a wage increase of more than 18% over three years. Additionally, cabin crews secured a new 'duty period premium,' compensating them for work performed on the ground, reflecting a broader trend in North America where flight attendants are challenging compensation structures based solely on flying time. The agreement also provides for increased time off and higher allowances for food and uniforms. The strike, which began early Sunday, saw approximately 4,400 flight attendants walk off the job, grounding flights across much of Canada during a busy holiday weekend. Operations began to return to normal after the tentative deal was reached early Monday, with the final approval coming after the vote.