Calgary – NOTE WestJet services YVR Vancouver and YXX Abbotsford.
From Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA):
While still waiting for a response to AMFA’s proposal of last night, WestJet initiated yet another lawsuit without prior notice to AMEs’ negotiators. The litigation requests that the government “quash” the AMEs’ strike notice on an “urgent” basis and without a prior hearing.
WestJet accuses AMFA of submitting position statements to the Canada Industrial Relations Board that are “inflammatory” and “offensive.”
However, in its own submission of today, WestJet alleges that an AME strike would place the “company and the traveling public in peril at a critical time.” (emphasis in original).
It is difficult to conceive of a more inflammatory or offensive comment.
The only action that would imperil the traveling public would be a decision, by WestJet, to allow unairworthy aircraft to carry our passengers.
WestJet has conceded that its maintenance operation is understaffed and that it cannot hire AMEs at the wage rates it currently offers.
Seeking appropriate compensation for AMEs does not present a safety risk. To the contrary, such compensation is required to restore a gold standard to a WestJet maintenance operation in decline.
We urge WestJet to spend less time suing and more time negotiating.
From the WestJet website June 26:
WestJet has started cancelling flights, as the airline reacts to its Aircraft Maintenance Engineers and other Technical Operations employees plan to go on strike as of Friday, June 28 at 5:30 p.m. MT. This action ensures the airline can safely park its aircraft in a controlled manner, while enabling proactive communication and preventing the stranding of WestJet’s guests and crew.
WestJet has presented the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) with a Canadian industry-leading agreement that is better suited than the previously rejected tentative agreement. Just hours into day one of a mutually agreed to four-day bargaining period, the union served a strike notice. This timing could disrupt the travel plans of more than 250,000 guests scheduled to travel over the July long weekend and appears to be an attempt to force an unreasonable contract.
“As we quickly approach the July long weekend, it is especially devastating that the strike notice we have received from AMFA forces us to begin cancelling flights and parking aircraft, for the second time in just over a week. As we are forced to make this painful decision, every one of us at WestJet feels the immense weight of the impact this will have on each of our guests and the communities we serve, counting on us to fulfil their travel plans this weekend,” said Diederik Pen, President of WestJet Airlines and Group Chief Operating Officer.
In the coming 48-hours the WestJet Group will work to park aircraft, in a measured, phased and safe approach, resulting in the following cancellations.
Total cancellation summary
Thursday, June 27 – Friday, June 28, 2024
- ~25 cancellations
Guest impact*
- ~3300 guests impacted
*WestJet is making every effort to reaccommodate all impacted guests
“We remain at the bargaining table, committed to reaching an agreement; however, we have no choice but to hold strong on a reasonable outcome that protects our future and ability to provide Canadians with critical and affordable air travel. As we initiate flight cancellations across our network, we will continue to manage our operations to the highest degree of safety,” concluded Pen.
Guests travelling are advised to check the status of their flight prior to leaving for the airport. Please visit WestJet’s Guest Updates page for more information regarding flight status, travel changes and more.
