The WestJet Group announced that they would begin the cancellation of 18 flights on June 19, and 13 flights on Thursday, June 20, ahead of a potential strike by members of the organization’s maintenance and technical operations team.

Speaking in a video made following the announcement of the cancellations, president of WestJet Airlines Diederik Pen said that labour negotiations between WestJet and the AMFA had broken down.

“As we prepare for labor action by aircraft maintenance engineers and other tech ops employees under the bargaining unit, we’re immensely disheartened to cancel flights,” he said.

“We know the situation is creating stress and uncertainty for anyone with upcoming travel plans to our guests, the communities and businesses that rely on our service, we’re truly sorry.”

WestJet said that approximately 6,500 guests would be impacted by the cancellations.

A strike notice by the AMFA given to the airline could take effect as early as 9 p.m. on June 20.

WestJet appeals to Canadian Industrial Relations Board for arbitration

Pen said that the airline had applied to Canada’s Minister for Labour and to the Canadian Industrial Relations Board for arbitration on the labour dispute.

He characterized the deal, one almost unanimously rejected by AMFA members, as one that would have made them the highest paid in the airline industry in Canada with a 30 to 40 per cent pay increase in the first year of the proposed agreement.

“This action would refer both sides to arbitration for a first collective agreement and prevent labour action from either party on behalf of myself and the entire executive leadership team. It is through this process that we hope to reach a fair and impartial resolution that will avoid any further disruption to your important travel plans,” Pen said.

Pen said that WestJet began negotiating in good faith with the AMFA nine months ago.

That assertion, along with the claims made by Pen about pay increases, was disputed by Samuel Seham, General Council for AMFA, in a letter filed by law firm Seham, Seham, Meltz and Petersen to the CIRB.

None of the claims made by WestJet or the AMFA to the CIRB have yet been tested by the board.

In a statement put out by the AMFA negotiating committee on June 19, they said that “the ability of working men and women to collectively withhold their labour in order to improve their lives has been described as a ‘sacred’ right under the Canadian Constitution.”

The statement said that authorization to strike had been approved by 99 per cent of members.

Pen, in defense of WestJet’s bargaining record, said in his statement that the airline had been able to reach deals with five unions over the past two years.

Cancelled flights

June 19 flights

• WS615 YOW-YVR (Ottawa to Vancouver)
• WS422 YEG-YYZ (Edmonton to Toronto)
• WS660 YYC-YYZ (Calgary to Toronto)
• WS428 YEG-YYZ (Edmonton to Toronto)
• WS121 YYC-YVR (Calgary to Vancouver)
• WS132 YVR-YYC (Vancouver to Calgary)
• WS175 YEG-YVR (Edmonton to Vancouver)
• WS674 YYC-YYZ (Calgary to Toronto)
• WS483 YWG-YVR (Winnipeg to Vancouver)
• WS177 YEG-YVR (Edmonton to Vancouver)
• WS135 YYC-YVR (Calgary to Vancouver)
• WS133 YYC-YVR (Calgary to Vancouver)
• WS342 YYC-YQU (Calgary to Grande Prairie)
• WS131 YYC-YVR (Calgary to Vancouver)
• WS600 YYC-YXE (Calgary to Saskatoon)
• WS296 YYC-YQR (Calgary to Grande Prairie)
• WS675 YYZ-YYC (Toronto to Calgary)
• WS178 YVR-YEG (Vancouver to Edmonton)

June 20 flights

• WS601 YXE-YYC (Saskatoon to Calgary)
• WS144 YQU-YYC (Grande Prairie to Calgary)
• WS102 YVR-YYC (Vancouver to Calgary)
• WS606 YQR-YYZ (Grande Prairie to Toronto)
• WS649 YYZ-YYC (Toronto to Calgary)
• WS419 YYZ-YEG (Toronto to Edmonton)
• WS429 YYZ-YEG (Toronto to Edmonton)
• WS100 YVR-YYC (Vancouver to Calgary)
• WS661 YYZ-YYC (Toronto to Calgary)
• WS956 YVR-YYC (Vancouver to Calgary)
• WS1788 YVR-LAS (Vancouver to Las Vegas)
• WS1789 LAS-YVR (Las Vegas to Vancouver)
• WS160 YVR-YEG (Vancouver to Edmonton)