WestJet cancels flights, including in Edmonton, as aircraft maintenance engineers prepare to strike
CTV
WestJet has started cancelling some flights across the country, including Edmonton, as its aircraft maintenance engineers (AME) and tech ops staff prepare to walk off the job.
WestJet has started cancelling some flights across the country, including Edmonton, as its aircraft maintenance engineers (AME) and tech ops staff prepare to walk off the job.
"We feel like there's no other choice here," said Christopher Gatto, an AME in Edmonton.
"I think if you were to ask any aircraft maintenance engineer if they felt like they got enough compensation or enough respect for what they do you're not going to find a single yes," he added.
The union representing AME's issued 72-hour strike notice earlier this week.
"The strike vote was actually in response to WestJet deciding that they didn't want to negotiate anymore," Gatto said.
"We wanted to go back to the table but WestJet said no," he added.
WestJet has asked the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to intervene in the negotiations under the Canada Labour Code. If the CIRB gets involved, it would mean both sides would be sent to arbitration for a first collective agreement, preventing labour action.
