Canadian carrier WestJet Airlines Ltd. faced significant travel disruptions on Saturday as 150 flights were canceled due to a strike by unionized mechanics. The strike, which began late Friday, came despite government efforts to prevent such disruptions during the busy Canada Day holiday weekend.
The initial cancellations, affecting 20,000 travelers, were announced by WestJet on its website, with plans to operate a "significantly reduced" schedule by the end of Saturday. Over 250,000 people had booked flights with the airline for the holiday weekend.
The federal government had intervened on Thursday to prevent the strike by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, with Labor Minister Seamus O'Regan ordering final binding arbitration to settle the labor disputes between WestJet and the union. The decision was made as WestJet is under the control of Onex Corp, a private equity firm based in Toronto.
Despite the government's intervention, the mechanics went ahead with the strike on Friday evening, citing a decision by the industrial relations board on June 28 that permitted the labor action. O'Regan expressed dissatisfaction with the board's decision in a social media post on X, calling it "clearly inconsistent" with his directive.
O'Regan stated that he would be exploring additional measures to safeguard the interests of the employer, the union, and all Canadians traveling over the national holiday weekend. The situation remains dynamic as both parties navigate the complexities of labor negotiations amidst a busy travel period.