WestJet Prepares for Labor Strike with Boeing Plane Parkings
Canada's WestJet has started parking its Boeing 737 planes in anticipation of a potential labor strike by flight attendants. The move comes as negotiations between WestJet and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) have stalled over unpaid work.
The CUPE, which represents WestJet flight attendants, had warned that cabin crew could go on strike as early as August 2 if a deal is not reached. The union is seeking to be paid from check-in to clock-out time, rather than just during scheduled hours.
WestJet has stated that it remains committed to reaching an agreement with the CUPE and has taken steps to maintain operational control by parking its Boeing planes. However, flights operated on Bombardier's Q400 and codeshare flights operated by partners remain unaffected.