WestJet Encore Flight Attendants File Notice of Dispute Over Stalled Contract

CALGARY, Canada — Flight attendants at regional airline WestJet Encore, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 8125, have formally filed a notice of dispute with the Canadian federal government. The regulatory filing follows months of protracted collective bargaining that have failed to produce an initial collective agreement between the regional carrier and its approximately 360 frontline cabin crew members.

The move marks a critical formal escalation in Canadian airline labor relations, officially requesting that the federal Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade appoint a government conciliator to step in and mediate the deadlocked negotiations.

Escalating Impasse Over First Collective Agreement

Under the Canada Labour Code, submitting a notice of dispute officially initiates a structured federal conciliation process. Once a conciliator is designated, the union bargaining committee and WestJet management enter a mandatory 60-day conciliation period aimed at establishing common ground. If the parties remain unable to reach a negotiated settlement when conciliation concludes, a statutory 21-day cooling-off period commences.

Only after the expiration of that cooling-off period can either party legally exercise economic pressure, including serving a mandatory 72-hour strike notice or instituting an employer lockout. Union representatives emphasized that while the filing begins the legal countdown toward potential industrial action, the primary goal remains securing a comprehensive, mutually acceptable first contract without disrupting passengers.

Core Grievances Around Unpaid Duties and Mainline Disparity

Central to the dispute are long-standing grievances regarding unpaid ground labor and widening compensation disparities between regional staff and mainline employees. Flight attendants at WestJet's mainline operation overwhelmingly ratified a five-year collective agreement earlier this summer that delivered historic base wage increases and introduced dedicated hourly compensation for passenger boarding and ground delays.

By contrast, WestJet Encore cabin crew continue to perform extensive mandatory duties prior to departure and following arrival—including pre-flight emergency equipment safety checks, security sweeps, and boarding assistance—without receiving flight pay. The union argues that Encore flight attendants remain among the lowest-paid cabin crew members in the Canadian commercial aviation industry despite shouldering identical safety and regulatory responsibilities.

"Many of the issues we are working to resolve at Encore were already addressed in the Mainline agreement ratified this summer," stated Alia Hussain, President of CUPE Local 8125. "Encore cabin crew remain among the lowest-paid flight attendants in Canada. They deserve a fair agreement that delivers meaningful improvements to their compensation and working conditions. The ball is in WestJet's court to show our Encore cabin crew the respect and fair deal they deserve so they can get back to focusing on keeping passengers safe."

Regional Operational Context and Fleet Profile

WestJet Encore represents a foundational pillar of the WestJet Group's domestic network, operating an extensive fleet of De Havilland Canada Dash 8 Q400 turboprop aircraft. The carrier connects dozens of smaller, remote Canadian communities across western and northern Canada with the airline's primary hub airports in Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver.

Operating turboprop schedules involves distinct physical and operational demands, including multi-leg regional rosters, short ground turnaround times, and severe sub-zero winter weather conditions. Union leaders contend that high turnover and crew fatigue will persist unless compensation and scheduling rules are aligned with wider industry standards. CUPE Local 8125 represents approximately 4,700 total WestJet flight attendants nationwide, and union leadership stressed that the entire component stands united behind the Encore regional workforce.