NDP Joins CUPE Cabin Crew Workers Urging Liberal Government Not to Repeat Right to Strike Violation at WestJet

With a potential strike among WestJet cabin crew workers looming, the NDP is urging the Liberal government to respect workers’ collective bargaining rights and to refrain from intervening if a strike ensues. While negotiations are ongoing, a strike could occur as early as August 2nd.

In a letter addressed to Minister of Jobs Patty Hajdu, NDP Labour Critic Don Davies and MP Leah Gazan echoed concerns voiced by CUPE local 8125 President Alia Hussain, representing over 4,400 WestJet cabin crew workers, about possible government intervention. Just last summer, the Liberals attempted to shut down CUPE flight attendants’ strike at Air Canada after just 12 hours.

“In light of the Liberal government’s repeated violations of Canadian workers’ right to strike, we echo the call by workers at CUPE and beyond for you to respect their Constitutional rights and to refrain from siding with WestJet executives by forcing them back to work without a fair deal,” reads the letter.

The NDP letter reiterates CUPE 8125 President Alia Hussain’s call on the federal government to refrain from using Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to force an end to the strike. “When governments intervene in collective bargaining,” she said, “it risks shifting the balance of power against workers and undermining meaningful negotiations, just like what we saw at Air Canada last summer. On behalf of CUPE 8125, I urge the federal government to respect our collective bargaining rights and to refrain from intervening.”

Similar to last year’s strike at Air Canada, CUPE 8125 has singled out unpaid work as a major concern that remains unaddressed after months of negotiations with WestJet. Showing overwhelming support among workers, on July 15th the union announced that 99.4 per cent of its members voted yes to their strike vote, with a turnout of 97.3 per cent.

“Collective bargaining has always been the best way for workers to bring home a fair, liveable wage,” said MP Davies. “When the government intervenes with unfair strikebreaking tactics, it tips the scale in favour of big corporate executives and against workers struggling just to get by. Working folks deserve better than the continuous corporate favouritism from this Liberal government."

MP Gazan, who sponsored the NDP’s Bill C-247 to repeal Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code—the government’s common strike-breaking tool–said Carney’s Liberals can’t continue their pattern of human rights violations.

“The Supreme Court has confirmed that the right to strike is protected by the Charter, while the International Court of Justice ruled that it is protected under international law. We will not sit back while the government treats fundamental human rights like they can be thrown away whenever they inconvenience profit-hungry corporations.”