WestJet flight attendants are pushing for a new collective agreement that addresses claims of unpaid work. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) announced on Tuesday that it plans to negotiate a new contract for its flight attendants.

Alia Hussain, president of CUPE 8125, emphasized the need for fair compensation. "WestJet flight attendants are professionals who deserve to be paid for every minute they're on the job, from pre-boarding safety checks to post-flight duties," she stated. Hussain added, "Unpaid work is unacceptable, and it's time for that to end."

The union is committed to negotiating in good faith. "Our message to WestJet is plain and simple. Pay us fairly. Pay us for all our time," Hussain said. The current collective agreement for WestJet flight attendants is set to expire on December 31.

WestJet confirmed that it received the notice from CUPE regarding the new negotiations. This move comes in the wake of similar disputes involving Air Canada flight attendants, who are also represented by CUPE. Last month, Air Canada canceled flights nationwide in anticipation of a strike by its 10,000 flight attendants, with unpaid work being a significant issue in their negotiations.

The union representing Air Canada flight attendants claimed that its members were not adequately compensated for time spent on the job when planes were not in the air. In response, Labour Minister Patty Hajdu invoked Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, ordering the attendants back to work, a directive the union initially defied. A three-day strike concluded on August 19 after federal mediation, leading to a tentative agreement. However, flight attendants later voted overwhelmingly to reject that deal, prompting the wage issue to return to mediation.

On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Air Canada flight attendants' union indicated that they have requested to cancel the mediation process, which would send the wage issue to arbitration.

In August, Hajdu announced an investigation into unpaid work in the airline industry. The federal government plans to consult with both employees and employers and will hold two roundtable discussions with stakeholders on September 23-24 and October 2-3.