More than 90 per cent of pilots have voted in favour of hitting the picket lines.
The Airline Pilots Association, says about 95 per cent of WestJet’s 1,500 pilots and WestJet encore’s 500 pilots took part in the vote.
The result comes in with eight days remaining in the 21-day cooling-off period, after which the union can launch a strike or the airline can lock out employees.
Although the pilots will be in a legal position to commence job action on May 19, the union says it has committed to not strike over the Victoria Day long weekend as bargaining continues.
Co-founder of Air Passenger Rights, Gabor Lukacs says if you’re travelling with WestJet in the near future, you are entitled to compensation if your flight is cancelled.
“Certainly it can result in significant disruptions to passengers travel.” Lukacs explains, “In such situations what is clear, and it is a no-brainer, is passengers can and are entitled to get a full refund of the airfare they paid.”
The union says negotiations will continue starting next week in Halifax and it is committed to staying there for as long as it takes to get a first collective agreement done.
WestJet has also issued a statement.
“We acknowledge the outcome of this vote and recognize the mandate WestJet pilots have given ALPA,” said Ed Sims, WestJet President and CEO. “We are certain our guests will appreciate that this update confirms their travel will be unaffected over the Victoria Day long weekend.”
Said Sims, “We remain at the negotiation table to drive a sustainable agreement, in the best interest of our pilots, 13,000 WestJetters and the 70,000 guests who fly with us daily.”
