WestJet flight attendants vote 99.4% to strike as soon as August 2

Thousands of Canadian travellers will need to rethink August long weekend plans after WestJet flight attendants voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike.

About 4,400 union members represented by CUPE Local 8125 voted 99.4% in favour of a strike on Wednesday, July 15, with 97.3% of flight attendants participating in the vote. With the authorization confirmed, unionized flight attendants can legally walk off the job starting August 2, potentially grounding WestJet, Canada's second-largest airline, the day before a statutory holiday in many provinces.

The vote comes after months of stalled negotiations between the airline and the union over contract terms. The previous agreement, signed during the pandemic in March 2021, expired at the end of 2025. "The members of CUPE 8125 are united and determined," union president Alia Hussain said. "They voted to strike because they stand behind the bargaining priorities that they have identified, especially pay for all hours of work performed."

A central dispute involves how WestJet compensates flight attendants. The union argues that attendants aren't paid for significant unpaid hours each month — roughly 35 hours on average — spent assisting with boarding, deplaning, and delays. WestJet defends its "credit hour" pay model as standard across North America, though CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech acknowledged the airline's previous contract is outdated. "It was done in the middle of the pandemic, so there's a lot of catch-up to be done because they fell behind inflation," he said.

Either WestJet or the flight attendants must provide 72 hours' notice before a strike or lockout takes effect, so Canadians may not know their August flight status until late July. WestJet could also lock out attendants as of August 2 if negotiations remain stalled.