One of the leading Canadian carriers has cancelled in the region of 40 flights ahead of strike action by its aircraft maintenance engineers and other tech pps employees.
WestJet confirmed it had taken action to ensure it could park its aircraft in a safe and organized way and to aid proactive communication with staff and customers ahead of the walkout by around 670 members of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association.
"We are immensely disheartened that we are in a position where we must activate our contingency plan and begin parking aircraft, as a result of the strike notice served by AMFA. We deeply regret the disruption this will have on the travel plans of our guests, communities and businesses that rely on our critical air service," said Diederik Pen, President of WestJet Airlines and Group Chief Operating Officer. "Following the memberships' nearly unanimous decision to reject a generous tentative agreement that would have made our Aircraft Maintenance Engineers the highest paid in the country, with a take-home pay increase of 30 to 40 per cent in the first year of the proposed agreement, it is clear that the bargaining process has broken down."
