WestJet mechanics have ratified a new collective agreement in the wake of a costly two-day strike that took place during the Canada Day long weekend.
The new contract with the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) will see mechanics and other technical operations staff members receive a 15.5% wage hike in year one, 3.25% in year two, and additional 2.5% increases annually in years three, four and five, the union said Friday.
AMFA national president Bret Oestreich told Canadian Press that he believes the contract sets a new precedent for the industry and will likely prompt proactive wage increases at other carriers.
“Other airlines now are going to be matching what WestJet is giving to their AMEs (aircraft maintenance engineers), because they won’t want to lose their talent,” Oestreich said.
Diederik Pen has been named president of WestJet Airlines. (Photo Credit: WestJet)
WestJet president and CEO Diederik Pen says the ratification brings welcome stability to the airline.
“While we are grateful to have achieved resolution with a clear path forward together as a unified team, we recognize that the unprecedented impact of the disruption over July long weekend is still concerning for our guests, the communities we serve and our people,” Pen said in a news release.
Taking place during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, the strike forced WestJet to cancel more than 1,000 flights, impacting more than 100,000 travellers.
The strike came as a shock to WestJet management, which believed a strike had been avoided when federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan directed the two parties to binding arbitration.
But when the Canada Industrial Relations Board said the union’s 680 WestJet workers could still strike -- because the binding arbitration directive had not explicitly suspended that right – AMFA used that leverage to walk off the job and ultimately win a better contract.
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