Deal reached in WestJet mechanics, but airlines says disruptions still expected

In a news release on its website, WestJet said there will still be flight disruptions in the week ahead as its planes are brought back into service.

"We believe this outcome would not have been possible without the strike, but we do regret the disruption and inconvenience it has caused the travelling public over the Canada Day holiday period," the union said in its statement.Some 680 workers, whose daily inspections and repairs are essential to airline operations, had walked off the job on Friday evening despite a directive for binding arbitration from the labour minister.

Trevor Temple-Murray was one of thousands of customers scrambling to rebook after their trips were scrapped less than a day in advance. "It's distressing," she said."I was supposed to be at home today, like seven hours ago, but I'm not."The airline's president had stressed what he called the"continued reckless actions" of a union making"blatant efforts" to disrupt Canadians' travel plans, while the association claimed the Calgary-based company had refused to respond to a counterproposal.

That process typically sidesteps a work stoppage. WestJet clearly thought so, stating the union had"confirmed they will abide by the direction." A decision from the Canada Industrial Relations Board seemed to affirm the legality of their actions regardless of protocols around arbitration.

Source: Holiday News (holidaynews.net)

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