WestJet Flight Attendants Strike Over Unpaid Ground Work

Flight attendants at WestJet went on strike on August 2, 2026, following a breakdown in contract negotiations between the airline and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). The labor action occurs during a peak summer travel weekend, disrupting flights for up to 70,000 passengers daily.

The dispute centers on wages and the demand for compensation for ground work, with the union alleging that flight attendants are subjected to unpaid labor. CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech stated that the airline proposed a double-digit wage increase and an hourly rate covering all time before and after flights, claiming the offer would set a new standard for cabin crew in Canada.

Union leadership rejected the proposal as insufficient. Minister of Jobs Patty Hajdu expressed disappointment over the travel disruptions, though it remains unclear if the federal government under Prime Minister Mark Carney will intervene to end the strike. The government's potential involvement follows previous attempts to resolve a separate dispute involving Air Canada.