WestJet has cancelled nearly 700 flights, upending plans for close to 100,000 passengers as an unexpected strike by plane mechanics entered its third day Sunday
The Calgary-based airline has already cancelled a total of 407 flights over the weekend in an effort to “maintain stability.”
Most of the flights were cancelled on Saturday, with 282 trips on WestJet planes being called off.
AMFA leadership posted a letter from the Canada Industrial Relations Board regarding its decision in which it said that the ministerial referral “does not have the effect of suspending the right to strike or lockout.”
WestJet says it’s “extremely outraged at these actions and will hold AMFA 100 per cent accountable for the unnecessary stress and costs incurred as a result.”
Federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan, who said the order from the Canada Industrial Relations Board was “clearly inconsistent” with the direction he provided, weighed in again on Saturday, telling both parties to work together with the board to get a deal done.
With files from Christopher Reynolds in Montreal