The WestJet Airlines mechanics strike that led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights over the long weekend in Canada will continue until a deal is reached with the union, the union’s president told Reuters on Sunday.
Bret Oestreich, president of the Fraternal Aircraft Mechanics Association, said the two sides will meet again with a mediator Sunday. The union represents about 680 WestJet workers, including aircraft maintenance engineers, who went on strike Friday after 97% of its members rejected a wage deal reached in May.
“All we want is to get back to the negotiating table,” Oestreich said. “The strike will remain in place until we reach an agreement.”
He said the two sides are separated by about 7 percent in the first year of the deal, or less than $8 million over a roughly four-year contract.
WestJet, owned by Onex Corp, was not immediately available for comment Sunday.
On Saturday, WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech blamed the union for the problem, claiming leaders had refused to negotiate.
“Their sole purpose was to inconvenience as many Canadian travelers as possible,” he said.
Canada’s second-largest airline said Saturday night that it had cancelled a total of 407 flights, affecting more than 49,000 passengers.
WestJet President Diederik Pen told reporters Saturday that the company expects to carry about 70,000 passengers a day over the long weekend. Pen said the airline can maintain a minimum service with 30 to 50 planes, operating about 150 flights per day.
Source: Terra
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