A surprise strike by unionized airline mechanics at WestJet has left thousands of passengers wondering whether they would reach their destinations on Saturday after the airline cancelled 235 flights, affecting an estimated 33,000 passengers.
The airline said another 150 flights will be cancelled if a solution to the dispute isn’t reached by early Saturday afternoon MT.
The strike decision comes a day after Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to impose binding arbitration to solve outstanding collective agreement issues between the Calgary-based airline and Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA).
In a statement Thursday, AMFA said there is no modern precedent for the minister’s action. The order also followed two weeks of turbulent discussions with the union on a new deal.
AMFA said on Friday that roughly 680 workers went…
