WestJet Airlines pilots vote in favour of strike action

WestJet pilots have committed to not disrupting passenger travel plans over the Victoria Day long weekend despite voting overwhelmingly to give its union a strike mandate.

The Air Line Pilots Association said its WestJet members voted 91 per cent in favour of strike action. About 95 per cent of WestJet’s 1,500 pilots and WestJet Encore’s 500 pilots voted.

“The goal is — and always has been — to secure a fair collective agreement that brings stability to the airline, and not to strike,” stated Capt. Rob McFadyen, chair of the WestJet association’s master executive council. “The strong results of our strike vote and the excellent turnout at our informational picketing event earlier this week should provide management the added incentive it needs to bring serious proposals to the bargaining table that address our concerns.”

The result was announced with eight days remaining in the 21-day cooling-off period after which the union can launch a strike or the airline can lock out employees. Pilots will be in a legal position to commence job action on May 19.

He said it’s time for the efforts of pilots to be properly recognized in terms of industry-standard compensation and working conditions, and job security that prevents management from outsourcing jobs.

WestJet CEO Ed Sims said the Calgary-based airline respects the outcome and recognized the mandate pilots have given the association.

“We remain at the negotiation table to drive a sustainable agreement, in the best interest of our pilots, 13,000 WestJetters and the 70,000 guests who fly with us daily,” he said in a news release.

The union said negotiations will continue starting next week in Halifax.