Skip to Content News Archives Economy Energy Oil & Gas Renewables Electric Vehicles Mining Commodities Agriculture Real Estate Mortgages Mortgage Rates Finance Banking Insurance Fintech Cryptocurrency Work Wealth Smart Money Wealth Management Investor Personal Finance Family Finance Retirement Taxes High Net Worth FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials More Innovation Information Technology FP500 Podcasts Small Business Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Financial Post Store Obituaries Place a Notice Advertising Advertising With Us Advertising Solutions Postmedia Ad Manager Sponsorship Requests Classifieds Place a Classifieds ad Working Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ News Economy Energy Mining Real Estate Finance Work Wealth Investor FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials HomeAirlinesWestJet Airlines to learn results of flight attendants' strike vote WednesdayCUPE noted that a strike vote decision does not necessarily mean a strike will occurLast updated 1 hour ago You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.WestJet cabin crew are currently paid using a credit-hour system, which is the standard compensation model used by many North American airlines. Photo by Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty ImagesWestJet Airlines flight attendants will decide on Wednesday whether they authorize a possible strike action that could start as early as Aug. 2.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThe carrier’s approximately 4,400 flight attendants represented by Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) local 8125 opened a strike vote on July 9 and will release the results following the close of voting on July 15.The union has been negotiating with the company on key issues, including wages, compensation, scheduling, work-life balance and other workplace improvements. 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Please try againThe mainline WestJet flight attendants have been working without a collective agreement since it expired at the end of 2025.“Our goal remains the same as it has been from the beginning: to reach a fair, negotiated, collective agreement,” Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, said in a press release earlier this month. “A strong strike mandate demonstrates that our members are united behind their bargaining committee and committed to achieving meaningful improvements.”The union held a “day of action” information picket at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Sunday and will hold similar events in Calgary and Winnipeg airports on Tuesday.CUPE 8125 noted that a strike vote decision on Wednesday does not mean a strike will occur. It just provides union members with the opportunity to authorize a walkout “should it become necessary at a later stage of the bargaining process, while strengthening the bargaining committee’s position in negotiations.”The earliest date a legal strike or employer lockout could occur is Aug. 2.“We are committed to reaching a negotiated settlement,” said Hussain. “We believe the best outcome is one achieved at the bargaining table, and we remain focused on securing an agreement that recognizes the value of the work WestJet flight attendants perform every day.”Currently, WestJet cabin crew are paid using a credit-hour system, which is the standard compensation model used by many North American airlines. This system includes minimum monthly guarantees, overtime thresholds and contractual pay protections.The union said this system fails to capture the reality of modern cabin crew work, as cabin crew are only compensated for both flight and non-flight duties through a single rate of pay, rather than paying separately for each hour on duty.WestJet reports that cabin crew earn between $28.45 and $53.61 per credit hour, while widebody cabin managers earn between $37.54 and $69.69 per credit hour.In August last year, 10,000 flight attendants with Air Canada, also represented by CUPE, served a strike notice that led to the airline suspending flights.Air Canada was able to gradually restart its operations three days later after reaching a mediated agreement with CUPE through a mediator. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. 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