Strike Vote Underway
WestJet flight attendants have officially opened a strike vote that will continue until July 15, 2026, according to a public statement from the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). The union is seeking member authorization for a strike position while negotiations proceed under federal conciliation.
Potential Strike Date
The earliest date a legal strike or employer lockout could occur is August 2, 2026. The strike vote does not guarantee a strike; rather, it empowers the bargaining committee to call a strike if necessary later in the process.
Union's Position
“Our goal remains the same as it has been from the beginning: to reach a fair, negotiated, collective agreement,” said Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, in the statement. “A strong strike mandate demonstrates that our members are united behind their bargaining committee and committed to achieving meaningful improvements.”
Core Dispute: Unpaid Work
At the centre of the dispute is what the union describes as a widening gap between the work flight attendants perform and how that work is compensated. According to CUPE, flight attendants are responsible for passenger safety from the moment they report for duty, yet significant portions of that time are not fully compensated. On average, flight attendants work 35 hours every month unpaid, the union says.
Parallels to Air Canada Strike
These grievances echo complaints from Air Canada’s flight attendants, when 10,000 of them went on strike in August 2025, causing a three-day service interruption and later a federal government probe into unpaid work.
Next Steps
Hussain said the union remains “committed to reaching a negotiated settlement” and is “focused on securing an agreement that recognizes the value of the work WestJet flight attendants perform every day.” The strike vote results will be released by CUPE 8125 after voting closes on July 15.
