The WestJet Group cancelled another 25 flights late Wednesday ahead of a potential strike by its aircraft maintenance workers, adding to the growing wave of labour unrest that threatens to derail summer travel plans across Canada.
About 3,300 travellers with flights scheduled on Thursday and Friday have been affected by the decision. The announcement comes just over a week after WestJet, Canada’s second largest airline, cancelled some 31 flights with more than 6,000 travellers impacted.
“This timing could disrupt the travel plans of more than 250,000 guests scheduled to travel over the July long weekend,” WestJet said in a statement Wednesday.
Some 670 WestJet mechanics, represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, are poised to walk off the job as early as Friday at 5:30 p.m.
This comes as the union is accusing WestJet of suing it without notifying its negotiators, who are working with the airline on working out a new collective bargaining deal.
The union says WestJet’s statement about a strike putting it and travellers in peril is “inflammatory” and is urging WestJet to spend more negotiating with union representatives.
Union members overwhelmingly voted to reject a tentative deal earlier this month and have opposed WestJet’s request for arbitration.
This is a developing story.
With files from The Canadian Press.
