by Jen Mallia
Last updated: 9:30 AM ET, Thu July 16, 2026
Flight attendants at WestJet moved a step closer to job action as the vast majority (99.4 percent) of its union members voted for a strike mandate. Both sides in the negotiation now face a 21-day “cooling off” period, meaning flight attendants could go on strike starting Aug. 2, 2026; just in time for the summer long weekend.
According to a statement from CUPE 8125, its goal is to achieve a “negotiated agreement and minimize any impact on travellers.” However, as negotiations with the airline failed, the strike vote was “necessary to move the process forward at the bargaining table.”
Last summer, flight attendants at Air Canada went on strike briefly before being ordered back to work by the federal government in a controversial power play. The flight attendants (also represented by CUPE) defied the order until a settlement was negotiated through government -ordered binding arbitration. Although the flight attendants were only on strike for less than four days, the fallout was far-reaching. Thousands of passengers had to be rebooked, airports faced delays and ultimately, Air Canada announced the strike had cost the company approximately $375 million, prompting it to revise its adjusted annual earnings forecast downward by that same amount to $3 billion and forcing the airline to cut 400 management jobs.
WestJet is significantly smaller than Air Canada, with approximately 4,400 flight attendants compared with Air Canada’s 10,000, but the consequences of a strike will likely be comparable.
The WestJet union is still hoping a deal can be reached before labour action must be taken. “The members of CUPE 8125 are united and determined,” says Alia Hussain, CUPE 8125 President. “They voted to strike because they stand behind the bargaining priorities that they have identified, especially pay for all hours of work performed. WestJet should do the right thing and prevent travel disruptions for their passengers.”
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