Skip to Content Subscribe Our Offers My Account Manage My Subscriptions FAQ Newsletters Canada Canadian True Crime Canadian Politics Health World Israel & Middle East Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Comics NP News Quiz New York Times Crossword Horoscopes Life Eating & Drinking Style Sponsored Play for Ontario Travel Travel Canada Travel USA Travel International Cruises Travel Essentials Culture Books Celebrity Movies Music Theatre Television Business Essentials Advice Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Buy Canadian Home Living Outdoor Living Kitchen & Dining Tech Style & Beauty Personal Care Entertainment & Hobbies Gift Guide Travel Guide Amazon Prime Day Deals Savings National Post Store More Sports Hockey Baseball Basketball Football Soccer Golf Tennis Driving Vehicle Research Reviews News Gear Guide Obituaries Place an Obituary Place an In Memoriam Classifieds Place an Ad Celebrations Working Business Ads Archives Healthing Epaper Manage Print Subscription Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ Newsletters Canada World Financial Post NP Comment Longreads Puzzmo Diversions Life Shopping Epaper Manage Print Subscription HomeNewsCanadaStriking WestJet flight attendants say 13% pay bump, 'duty pay premium' for pre-flight work not enoughAirline says flight cancellations have affected travel for 250,000 people and counting You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.WestJet flight attendants who walked off the job Sunday say an offer of a 13 per cent pay increase and a 'duty pay premium' are not enough. Photo by Jim Wells /PostmediaA WestJet flight attendant strike is officially underway after the airline and the union failed to reach an agreement early Sunday morning, both sides announced, leaving untold thousands of travellers scrambling to adjust their plans.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 AccountorCEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said the airline was “disappointed” with the outcome and said it remains available to negotiate with CUPE 8125, the local which represents approximately 4,400 WestJet cabin crew.“We presented a proposal that would have set a new standard for cabin crew in Canada, making WestJet the only airline to offer an hourly rate covering all time before and after flights, plus a double-digit wage increase in year one among other priorities the union raised,” von Hoensbroech said in a statement. 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 againIn a separate statement, the carrier said it offered a 13 per cent pay increase effective Oct. 1 and retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026, and 2.5 per cent annual increases through January 2029. Per diems would increase by the same amount on the same schedule.It also proposed a new “duty pay premium — a payment for all duty hours (additional pay for all hours worked designed to solve the union’s claim of unpaid work), equivalent to another 12 per cent of salary increase.”Other details of the proposal include a healthcare spending account of $300 annually, a 17-week maternity leave top-up, a new flexible part-time program, improved scheduling and res provisions, premium pay for certain flight reassignments, reduced maximum duty days on more demanding schedules and compensation for delays in accessing hotel rooms during layovers.“It’s important to be clear about what was offered, what was not accepted, and what is leading to 250,000 guests whose August long weekend travel is cancelled, with further flights to follow, depending on the duration of the work stoppage,” the airline explained, noting inanother news release that 309 flights had been cancelled as late Saturday night.WestJet has said impacted passengers will berefunded or reaccommodated “as applicable.”CUPE 8125 president Alia Hussain said the offer “did not go far enough” and that flight attendants took labour action because they “deserve better.”“Unpaid work is a big piece of our priorities, but we are bargaining a comprehensive contract,” she said in a statement, noting the strike could have been avoided had the airline taken “concerns seriously for almost 11 months of bargaining.”National Post has contacted the union for more information on a media availability with Hussain scheduled for Sunday morning in Calgary, where talks had been ongoing. Hussain also reiterated the union’s plea that the federal government refrain from involving itself.When some 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants hit the picket line last summer, the federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu invoked section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to impose binding arbitration.The Canada Industrial Relations Board then declared the strike unlawful and issued a return-to-work order that flight attendants defied for three days until an agreement was reached. Air Canada now pays for flight attendants for some ground duties.“This is a disappointing development,” Hajdu wrote in a statement shared to X. “A strike or lockout does not mean an agreement can’t be reached; the expectation is that parties can and should come to an agreement at the bargaining table.”Meanwhile, Pascal Chan, vice-president of strategic policy and supply chains with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, called on Ottawa to “use every tool at its disposal to bring this dispute to a swift and fair resolution that will allow air service to resume.“Canadians are contending with yet another shutdown of critical transportation infrastructure that we cannot afford to watch drag on,” he wrote in a statement.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 daily newsletter, Posted, 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.