Canada’s WestJet forced to cancel flights as thousands of flight attendants strike

• Over 4,000 WestJet flight attendants , represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), began a strike on Sunday after failing to reach a new contract agreement with the airline .
• The core of the dispute centers on compensation for flight attendants' duties performed while aircraft are on the ground, which the union argues is often unpaid.
• As a direct consequence of the strike, WestJet canceled 309 flights by early Sunday, causing significant disruptions for travelers during a holiday weekend in Canada.
• WestJet stated its offer included a double-digit wage increase and an hourly rate for all pre- and post-flight duties, which the union deemed inadequate.
• CUPE expressed its desire for the Canadian government not to intervene in the ongoing bargaining process, hoping to resolve the dispute through continued negotiations.

IN FULL

Flight attendants at Canada’s second-biggest airline go on strike