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Or sign-in if you have an account.Parked WestJet airplanes at the Calgary International airport in 2020. Photo by Gavin Young/PostmediaWestJet has already begun parking its aircraft ahead of a possible strike by its flight attendants on Sunday.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.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.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.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.Support local journalism.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 AccountorBecause the airline has not yet reached a deal with the union representing its cabin crew, parking the planes “minimizes the risk of stranding guests and aircraft,” the airline said in a news release Friday. Also the move lets WestJet “maintain operational control and protect the integrity of the broader network.”Flight attendants, represented by CUPE Local 8125, served a 72-hour strike notice Thursday. WestJet issued a lockout notice of its own shortly after, which would let the airline shut down operations rather than wait to be struck. Either notice can take effect at 12:01 a.m. MT Sunday.Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againAt issue is how flight attendants get paid. The union says the current pay structure leaves hours of work uncompensated and wants pay for all time worked, a campaign it calls Unpaid Work Won’t Fly.“There’s still time to avoid a strike,” Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, said in a news release Thursday. “We will continue to bargain around the clock until this is resolved.”The local represents 4,400 WestJet flight attendants. Members voted 99.4 per cent in favour of a strike mandate on July 15, on a turnout of 97.3 per cent the union said was its highest ever. That vote gave the bargaining committee the power to call a strike. It was not a commitment to walk out.Ottawa has already stepped in once. Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu appointed a special mediator on July 15 to join two federal conciliators already at the table. CUPE has asked the government to go no further. Hajdu invoked Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code during last year’s Air Canada flight attendants strike, ordering cabin crew back to work and into binding arbitration.Passengers booked between July 30 and Aug. 4 can change or cancel once at no extra cost. WestJet said Thursday those whose flights are delayed or cancelled will be refunded or re-accommodated where applicable.WestJet Encore flights operated on a Q400, a turboprop flown on regional routes, are unaffected by this labour dispute, along with codeshare flights run by partner airlines. The airline did not explain the exemption. CUPE Local 8125 represents cabin crew at both WestJet and Encore but bargains for the two groups separately, under separate contracts, and the strike notice came from the mainline committee.WestJet said Friday it remains “active at the bargaining table to achieve a mutually agreeable deal at the earliest possible time.”The National Post has requested a statement from WestJet.Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our newsletters here. 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. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.