WestJet flight attendants ratify new contract with 90% support after brief strike

WestJet flight attendants have ratified a new collective agreement with the Calgary-based airline, with 90.2 per cent of voting members supporting the deal.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 8125, which represents more than 4,400 WestJet flight attendants, announced the ratification Monday. The three-year contract takes effect January 1, 2026 and runs through December 31, 2028.

The agreement includes more than 18 per cent in wage increases over three years: a 13 per cent raise this October, a 2.75 per cent increase in January 2027, and a 2.5 per cent hike at the start of 2028. The contract also introduces new paid compensation for duties cabin crew previously performed without pay.

"This is a strong mandate from our members and recognition of the meaningful gains we made at the bargaining table," said Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125. "This is only our second contract, and we made important progress, including making sure our members are compensated for more of the work they already do."

WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech said the ratified agreement "modernizes how cabin crew are compensated."

The settlement followed months of unsuccessful negotiations and a one-day strike on August 2-3 over the long weekend. During the brief work stoppage, WestJet cancelled more than 80 flights in and out of Calgary International Airport.

The central dispute centred on WestJet's credit-hours compensation model, which paid flight attendants a higher rate for flight time but only compensated them while the aircraft was in the air. CUPE argued that pre-flight processes — boarding, safety checks, cabin preparation — have grown more complex, forcing staff to work longer hours for the same wages.

WestJet's initial offer included a retroactive 13 per cent wage increase effective October and a 2.5 per cent annual raise for three years, plus a new duty pay premium the company said was equivalent to another 12 per cent salary bump. The final agreement builds on those terms with additional compensation improvements.