CALGARY — Flight attendants at WestJet have issued a formal notice of dispute after more than seven months of negotiations failed to produce what the union describes as meaningful progress on key issues.

The group, represented by CUPE 8125, represents approximately 4,400 cabin crew members at WestJet mainline. The union and airline have met multiple times each month since last September in an effort to reach a new agreement.

At the centre of the dispute is what the union says is a widening gap between the work flight attendants are required to perform and how that work is compensated. According to CUPE 8125, flight attendants are responsible for passenger safety from the moment they report for duty, yet significant portions of that time are not fully compensated under the current system. On average, flight attendants work 35 hours every month unpaid.

“Flight attendants are performing increasingly demanding work in a safety-sensitive environment, and we are some of the lowest paid in Canada”, said Alia Hussain, President of CUPE 8125. “The system that governs our compensation was built for a different time, and it no longer reflects the value of work being done today.”

In addition to compensation, the union is seeking improvements to scheduling and working conditions.

CUPE 8125 said its objective remains reaching a negotiated agreement while minimizing disruption for travellers, particularly as the peak summer travel period approaches.

“We understand how important travel is, particularly as we approach the busy summer season,” said Hussain. “Our focus is on securing a fair and sustainable agreement that reflects the realities of the job and the value of the work being done every day.”

The union is calling on WestJet to engage more meaningfully in negotiations to address the outstanding concerns.