Last Updated Sunday, June 30, 2024 12:00PM EDTThe 680-odd workers, whose daily inspections and repairs are essential to airline operations, walked off the job on Friday evening despite a directive for binding arbitration from the federal labour minister.
Both the airline and the Airplane Mechanics Fraternal Association have accused the other side of refusing to negotiate in good faith. As the clock ticked down toward a Friday strike deadline, the impasse prompted Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan to step in, mandating that WestJet and the union undertake binding arbitration headed by the country's labour tribunal.
The mechanics took a different view. The union negotiating committee said it would "comply with the minister’s order and directs its members to refrain from any unlawful job action." Fewer than 24 hours later, workers were on the picket line.