CALGARY — WestJet has begun initiating “significant” flight cancellations for today, Saturday, June 29, in light of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association’s (AMFA) decision to strike. WestJet says the initial 150 flight cancellations will impact approximately 20,000 guests “with limited reaccommodation options available.” The airline added that additional cancellations are anticipated this morning if the strike is not called off or intervention does not happen immediately.
AMFA’s decision to strike came despite word that the federal government would impose arbitration. As of yesterday WestJet and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association both said they will abide by the order, with strikes and lockouts off the table. In the first of two updates last night, WestJet’s Diederik Pen, President and Group Chief Operating Officer, said: “Given arbitration has been ordered, a strike has no leverage on the arbitration’s outcome, so it is pure retaliation of a disappointed union.
We are extremely outraged at these actions and will hold AMFA 100% accountable for the unnecessary stress and costs incurred as a result.” WestJet issued a second statement just before midnight (MT) last night, saying it is “actively and aggressively pursuing every avenue to minimize disruption, including asking for immediate intervention by the Minister of Labour and the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB).” WestJet has more than 250,000 passengers scheduled to fly acro.
