Travellers consider potential impacts as WestJet, flight attendants work toward new contract

More Albertans are thinking about hot vacations, but some are watching closely as bargaining continues between WestJet and its flight attendants.

The clock is ticking for WestJet and its flight attendants to sign a new deal before the current contract expires, and some Albertans are paying close attention to how possible outcomes might affect travel.

CUPE 8125, the union that represents flight attendants, released an animated video Tuesday that outlines concerns with working conditions as the union and WestJet continue collective bargaining to replace a contract that is set to expire on Dec. 31.

“This message is about respect—it’s about fair pay,” said Erin Rolfson, communications representative with CUPE 8125.

Flight attendants want to be paid for all of their work.

Right now, they’re only compensated for the time the plane is in their air and often do hours of unpaid work each day.

“Unfortunately, flight attendants at WestJet still work about 35 hours a month unpaid. That means for those new flight attendants, they often don’t make minimum wage when you factor in all the unpaid hours,” said Rolfson.

“It is disheartening to see the campaign initiated by CUPE,” said a statement from Jennifer Booth, senior manager of media and public relations with WestJet.

“We are currently in negotiations with CUPE and are interested in understanding their priorities as we work toward reaching a meaningful collective agreement that is also sustainable for WestJet’s future.”

The federal NDP introduced a bill aimed at ending unpaid work for flight attendants on Oct. 21, but experts say the clock is ticking if WestJet and the union don’t reach a deal.

“It depends on which one will reach home plate before the other, whether we go on a strike with WestJet or the legislation gets passed,” said John Gradek, aviation management professor at McGill University.

He added that could impact WestJet during the winter travel season.

“If that legislation doesn’t happen and pay for work performed remains an issue, we’ll probably have a strike in January,” he said.

The same issue sparked an Air Canada flight attendants’ strike in August, halting flights for three and a half days until the federal government ordered them back to work, with arbitrators still working out the contract.

Airlines are supposed to compensate impacted travellers, but months later, some are still waiting.

“Air Canada has not been fulfilling its obligations to passengers. It’s making it very difficult for passengers to recover. That’s reprehensible,” said Gábor Lukács, founder of the advocacy group Air Passenger Rights.

It’s on some Calgarians minds as they consider booking flights, including Joseph Jacob who is hoping to go to Mexico in January or February.

“The best ones are usually Air Canada and WestJet but of course with the strike I have all these doubts,” said Jacob.

Passenger advocates say there are no quick fixes to protect plans or money, but stronger rules and stricter enforcement could help.

“There’s no insurance for the airlines flouting the law. There’s no real way to avoid booking with a particular airline because we don’t have that many airlines. The only way, in my view, is to speak to your member of parliament and tell them you want proper passenger protection,” said Lukács.