16.94°C Vancouver

Jul 2, 2024 4:01 PM - The Canadian Press

"Full resumption of operations will take time" after reaching tentative deal: WestJet

Share On
full-resumption-of-operations-will-take-time-after-reaching-tentative-deal-westjet
Some 680 members of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association had walked off the job on Friday evening despite a directive for binding arbitration from federal Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

WestJet flight disruptions are expected to continue this week, after a deal was reached over the weekend to end a strike by its mechanics.

The airline said in a statement Monday morning that "full resumption of operations will take time and further cancellations will be required over the coming days."

Some 680 members of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association had walked off the job on Friday evening despite a directive for binding arbitration from federal Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan.

The tentative agreement was announced late Sunday night, but the strike had already disrupted the travel plans of tens of thousands of travellers over the Canada Day long weekend.

The airline said it had cancelled around 830 flights scheduled between Thursday and Monday. It later said another 214 flights were cancelled on Monday on top of 78 that had already been chopped, and 27 flights have been cancelled for Tuesday.

The Calgary-based airline says part of the challenge it faces is that its aircrafts are parked at 13 airports across Canada, and in several cases, the crews need to be transported to the aircraft for retrieval.

A statement from the union says "the timing was coincidental as the negotiation process did not follow a predictable timeline and if members ratify it, the compulsory arbitration ordered by the labour minister won't be necessary.

Latest news

canada-india-agree-to-name-new-high-commissioners-at-g7-meeting
CanadaJun 17, 2025

Canada, India agree to name new high commissioners at G7 meeting

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G-7 summit today. During the discussion, both countries decided to appoint new High Commissioners. Along with this, regular diplomatic services will be restored for citizens of both countries. Canada expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officials last fall. This decision was taken after law enforcement reported that Indian government agents were involved in a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens. Chinmoy Naik is currently serving as the Acting High Commissioner of India to Canada.
panthers-can-clinch-a-2nd-consecutive-stanley-cup-championship-by-beating-the-oilers-in-game-6
CanadaJun 17, 2025

Panthers can clinch a 2nd consecutive Stanley Cup championship by beating the Oilers in Game 6

The Florida Panthers can win the Stanley Cup for the second year in a row by beating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the final. Their first chance to clinch the franchise's second championship comes at home after a dominant performance in Game 5 at Edmonton. Players say they learned important lessons from failing to close out the Oilers three timesin the final a year ago. Still, the Stanley Cup being in the building is enough to rile up the nerves in what could be the final game of the NHL season.
lethbridge-police-chief-accused-of-breaking-covid-rules-has-complaint-dismissed
AlbertaJun 17, 2025

Lethbridge police chief accused of breaking COVID rules has complaint dismissed

A police oversight board says it has dismissed a complaint that a southern Alberta police chief allegedly broke public health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. It comes after a former deputy chief with the Lethbridge Police Service had claimed Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh violated a public health order by taking a chaplain out for lunch in March 2021. A disciplinary hearing by the Lethbridge Police Commission concluded Monday and dismissed the allegations. An agreed statement of facts says Mehdizadeh and the chaplain were masked and properly socially distanced throughout the lun
mp-resigns-seat-so-poilievre-can-run-in-alberta-byelection
CanadaJun 17, 2025

MP resigns seat so Poilievre can run in Alberta byelection

Alberta Conservative Damien Kurek says he has officially resigned as an MP after promising earlier in the spring to vacate his seat in the Battle River—Crowfoot riding to allow Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to run in a byelection. Poilievre lost his Ottawa-area seat in the general election to Liberal Bruce Fanjoy, a political rookie. Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he will call a byelection in the riding as soon as possible.
shameful-blame-game-mla-elenore-sturko-condemns-minister-garry-begg-for-targeting-victims-amid-surrey-extortion-crisis
CanadaJun 17, 2025

“Shameful Blame Game”: MLA Elenore Sturko Condemns Minister Garry Begg for Targeting Victims Amid Surrey Extortion Crisis

At a public safety forum in Surrey this weekend, frustration in the South Asian business community reached a boiling point. Community members, many of them extortion victims, spoke out about a justice system they no longer trust. Instead of standing with victims, NDP Public Safety Minister Garry Begg blamed the community for not coming forward. His comments, made in front of survivors and concerned citizens, shocked attendees and drew immediate condemnation from MLA Elenore Sturko, Official Opposition Critic for Solicitor General and Public Safety. “At yesterday’s public safety town hall

Related News