WestJet and AMFA confirm end of strike action
The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) has agreed to call off its strike action impacting Canadian carrier WestJet, with AMFA members to return to work following the renegotiation of a…
July 1, 2024
The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) has agreed to call off its strike action impacting Canadian carrier WestJet, with AMFA members to return to work following the renegotiation of a new five-year contract.
“We take no victory laps on this outcome but will sleep better tonight knowing further harm has been prevented,” said Diederik Pen, president of WestJet Airlines and group chief operating officer. “We will see no further labour action coming out of this dispute, as both parties agree to arbitrate the contract in the case of a failed ratification”.
Talks between the parties resumed on 30 June for the first time in three days, with both parties making “essential movements to find common ground and achieve an agreement,” according to WestJet. In total, the strike lasted 48 hours.
Although the Minister of Labor had directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to assist the parties in reaching a first collective agreement – including upholding AMFA’s right to strike – a second tentative agreement (TA2) will now provide “substantial improvements over both the current terms of employment and the terms provided for in the first tentative agreement,” says AMFA.
The pair will now enter into final binding arbitration to resolve the outstanding terms of the collective agreement, preventing any further cancellations. Although AMFA believes this outcome would not have been possible without the strike, it does regret the “disruption and inconvenience it has caused the travelling public over the Canada Day holiday period”.
