WestJet, ALPA agree to federal mediation, late June settlement

Following personal intervention by the Canadian govt’s labor minister, WestJet management and its pilots, as represented by ALPA, agreed May 25 to federal mediation of the two sides’ heated contract negotiations, averting pilot strike action. The federal mediation process is expected to be concluded by the end of June, both the airline and the pilot union said. May 10, WestJet’s pilots overwhelmingly approved a vote to strike if contract negotiations failed to produce movement on a new contract. The earliest day for a potential strike, May 19, was postponed to not disrupt travel over the Victoria Day national holiday (May 21) long weekend. After the strike authorisation vote announcement, WestJet management added 14 days of additional face-to-face negotiations. <br/>