WestJet Pilots Issue 72-Hour Strike Notice

After months of ongoing negotiations betwixt the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the national that represents WestJet pilots, and WestJet Group, a enactment stoppage could instrumentality spot successful beforehand of the upcoming agelong weekend. As of precocious Monday, May 14, WestJet pilots person issued a 72-hour onslaught notice, and successful turn, WestJet Group has issued a lockout notice.

While there’s inactive clip for the 2 groups to scope a deal, WestJet and Swoop’s operations could beryllium importantly affected arsenic of 3am EDT connected Friday, May 19 if immoderate occupation enactment takes place.

WestJet Pilots Issue 72-Hour Strike Notice

For the past 9 months, the ALPA, the national that represents WestJet pilots, has been successful negotiations with WestJet Group implicit a caller contract. To date, the 2 sides person been incapable to scope an agreement, which has pb to the anticipation of upcoming large disruptions to WestJet and Swoop’s formation operations.

In April, pilots voted successful favour of a onslaught mandate, and connected Monday, May 15, issued a 72-hour onslaught announcement to the airline. WestJet Group’s effect was to contented a lockout notice, and preparations person begun successful the lawsuit of a large disruption portion ongoing negotiations instrumentality place. 

Should the 2 sides stay divided and incapable to scope an agreement, WestJet and Swoop’s operations could beryllium importantly affected, and determination could beryllium a wide disruption to the airlines’ existent networks.

Negotiations betwixt the national that represents WestJet pilots and WestJet Group person been ongoing for 9 months

One imaginable result is that a enactment stoppage could hap arsenic of Friday, May 19 astatine 3am EDT, close earlier a engaged agelong weekend.

WestJet and Swoop pilots asseverate that they’re advocating for amended occupation security, scheduling adjustments, amended wages, and improved moving conditions, amongst different issues. 

WestJet Group has stated that it has offered a just and competitory declaration that appropriately addresses the pilots’ concerns.

The 2 parties person yet to unafraid an agreement, and negotiations are ongoing.

What To Do If Your Booking Is Affected

For anyone with an upcoming booking with WestJet oregon Swoop, beryllium prepared for imaginable large disruptions to your question plans if a onslaught takes place.

Both airlines are giving passengers options to voluntarily alteration their upcoming formation plans, though it’s important to enactment that WestJet and Swoop person obligations nether different rider rights schemes.

For passengers with a WestJet flight-only booking from May 15–21, 2023, the hose is offering a one-time $0 alteration oregon cancellation fee, which is valid for each fare types (including Basic).

This means that you tin opt to alteration your formation to a antithetic day oregon destination (a fare quality whitethorn apply), oregon you tin cancel your booking for a afloat refund to the archetypal signifier of payment. 

If determination is simply a strike, expect wide disruptions to WestJet’s operations

If the booking was made done a question cause oregon online question agency, passengers volition person to interaction them straight for immoderate amendments.

For passengers with a WestJet Vacations booking for question betwixt May 15–21, 2023, a one-time $0 interest waiver is being offered for changes oregon cancellations. If you determine to cancel your booking, the funds volition beryllium returned to your archetypal signifier of payment; however, if you alteration your booking, immoderate quality successful bundle terms is applicable.

For passengers with a Swoop booking with departure dates betwixt May 19–21, 2023, a one-time change whitethorn beryllium made for a $0 alteration interest and nary quality successful fare price. The caller formation tin beryllium selected betwixt May 19 and June 20, 2023, and changes tin beryllium made online if the booking was made with Swoop directly.

Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) see strikes to beryllium situations extracurricular of the carrier’s control, and passengers aren’t owed monetary compensation for delays oregon cancellations.

If your WestJet formation is disrupted owed to a imaginable strike, WestJet’s obligations beryllium connected the magnitude of the hold and the itinerary.

As per the APPR, wrong 48 hours of the archetypal departure time, WestJet indispensable rebook you connected its next-available formation oregon connected an hose with which it has a commercialized agreement. 

Once 48 hours person passed from the archetypal departure time, WestJet indispensable either publication you connected a formation operated by immoderate hose oregon springiness you a afloat refund of each unused formation segments to the archetypal signifier of outgo wrong 30 days.

If your Swoop formation is disrupted owed to a imaginable strike, Swoop’s obligations are different, since it is considered to beryllium a tiny carrier.

As a tiny carrier, Swoop isn’t obligated to rebook you connected immoderate hose successful the lawsuit of a formation disruption extracurricular of its control

As per the APPR, Swoop indispensable rebook you connected its next-available formation oregon connected an hose with which it has a commercialized agreement, wrong 48 hours of the archetypal departure time. 

After 48 hours person passed, you indispensable beryllium offered the prime of a afloat refund oregon hold to beryllium rebooked. Notably, Swoop isn’t obligated to rebook you connected an hose with which it doesn’t person a commercialized agreement. 

For flights that person an planetary component, you whitethorn beryllium covered by different rider rights schemes, specified arsenic EC261 (commonly referred to arsenic EU261) and the Montreal Convention.

Air Passenger Rights has published elaborate accusation astir rider rights the lawsuit of a strike, and is an fantabulous resource.

Conclusion

WestJet and Swoop’s pilots person issued a 72-hour onslaught notice, and successful return, WestJet Group has issued a lockout notice, which could effect successful wide formation disruptions arsenic aboriginal arsenic Friday, May 19 astatine 3am EDT. Negotiations betwixt the parties are ongoing.

Should the parties not scope an agreement, determination could beryllium a important interaction to WestJet and Swoop flights. Both airlines person provided impermanent amendments to their alteration and cancellation policies, though passengers are inactive protected successful immoderate signifier by the Air Passenger Protection Regulations and different schemes should determination beryllium a strike.

If you person immoderate upcoming question planned connected WestJet oregon Swoop, beryllium definite to support a adjacent oculus connected your bookings successful the adjacent fewer days. 

The station WestJet Pilots Issue 72-Hour Strike Notice appeared archetypal connected Prince of Travel by T.J. Dunn.