What a possible WestJet strike could mean for May long travel plans

WestJet pilots have voted in favour of job action, leaving many wondering what a possible strike could mean for the May long weekend.

There’s already enough uncertainty with travel these days, so this is probably the last thing anyone with plans wants to hear.

However, McGill business professor Karl Moore, who has consulted for airlines, says this vote doesn’t necessarily mean travel will ultimately be disrupted.

“It’s often a technique that the unions use, they’ll go out there, there’s people in favour and they might come to some settlement with the company. So maybe just the threat of a strike as opposed to a strike actually occuring. It’s a common tactic in negotiations, for sure,” he explained.

Read more:

• WestJet pilots vote in favour of strike mandate, want better pay and job protection

• WestJet pilots to launch strike authorization vote as negotiations fizzle

Moore says it’s likely going to be a “wait-and-see” situation for those with tickets booked through WestJet. He notes some people may want to make alternate plans, though.

“I think it’s wait and see, unless you’ve got something really important like a wedding or something where you really got to be there. Then you might go with some other choice,” he explained.

However, with many likely to turn to big airlines like Air Canada, which is already “quite busy right now,” Moore says travellers in the west may notice ticket prices ticking up for alternative airlines.

May 16 is the earliest date pilots can strike or WestJet can lock the pilots out, if it comes to that.

Ultimately, Moore says it’s possible both sides will come to some sort of an agreement — as is the case often.

A WestJet plane waits at a gate at Calgary International Airport in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022. The union representing WestJet pilots says they have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike mandate. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

“Part of it is that there’s a certain amount of exhaustion,” he told CityNews, saying it’s been a tough return for many since pandemic restrictions lifted.

“It came back faster than many people anticipated and there’s been a shortage of pilots. It’s been a rough time for them and they feel like they haven’t gotten kind of their rewards from WestJet that they should have gotten.”

Meanwhile, with many people taking to social media to raise their concerns about potential impacts, WestJet says it will continue to work with the union to reach an agreement.

“A strike authorization vote is a common step by unions in context of the overall labour negotiation process and does not mean a strike will occur,” said WestJet Group Chief Operating Officer Diederik Pen.

“We remain unwaveringly committed to achieving an agreement that is competitive within Canada’s airline industry and ensures we have a long-term sustainable future so that we can continue to operate critical air service for millions of Canadians, while providing jobs for thousands at the WestJet Group.”

The Air Line Pilots Association announced on Tuesday that 95 per cent of pilots voted, with 93 per cent of them in favour of the strike mandate.

The union says issues around job protection, pay, and scheduling at WestJet, WestJet Encore, discount subsidiary Swoop, remain unresolved.

Negotiations began last September.

-With files from Alejandro Melgar, Tiffany Goodwein, and The Canadian Press