WestJet pilots issued a 72-hour strike notice Monday evening.
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) issued a news release saying notice was given at 8 p.m.
The ALPA release said notice could have been given over the weekend but wasn’t, as a show of good faith.
“After nine months of negotiating, management still fails to understand today’s labour market conditions, leading to a mass exodus of our pilots in search of better work opportunities, and more will follow if this agreement does not meet our pilots’ needs,” said Capt. Bernard Lewall, chair of the WestJet ALPA master executive council.
“Without the economic and job security improvements our pilots require, WestJet will be parking planes, as they will not have enough pilots to operate them or accomplish its own growth strategy.”
WestJet pilots will be able to – and ALPA says plan to – begin “lawful job action” as of 3 a.m. on May 19.
ALPA says this could include “grounding all aircraft and effectively shutting down operations.”
“Flight disruptions are never an ideal outcome, especially given the tremendous support our guests have shown us, and we want to continue being a major contributor to our company’s success by helping WestJet realize its growth strategy,” Lewall said in Monday evening’s news release.
“However, WestJet pilots will withdraw our services to secure a contract that will fix many of the airline’s labour problems and make it a career destination for pilots once again.
“We are hopeful today’s strike notice filing will provide management with the incentive to recognize just how dire the situation is and reach an agreement with us.
“That’s why we will continue to make our negotiators available 24/7 during the remainder of the 72-hour strike notice period.”
Canada’s passenger rights rules dictate that airlines must offer to book passengers of cancelled flights on a flight with another airline within at least 48 hours of their departure time.
After that point, passengers can receive a refund but may also accept a voucher with the airline.
“Just deal with it as it happens,” said Gabor Lukacs, Canadian air passenger rights advocate.
“Once there’s a strike, that triggers the obligation by WestJet to rebook passengers and offer alternate transportation. If WestJet fails to comply with that obligation, then I would buy a ticket in a different airline and make WestJet pay for it because they breached their contractual and statutory obligations.”
Lukacs suggests documenting all interactions with the airline.
“The quality of your documentation will heavily affect your ability to enforce your rights down the line,” he said. “Don’t expect the airline to play by the book. They won’t, they won’t play by the rules, they’re going to try to find every possible trick on the books to avoid paying.
“Don’t be a pushover. Stand your ground.”
WestJet said on May 8 that it has a plan in place to “minimize what could be significant impacts to guest travel.”
– With files from the Canadian Press
