WestJet and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) recently arrived at a tentative agreement to cease a work stoppage that resulted in hundreds of cancelled flights and numerous stranded passengers, both sides said early Monday, CBC reported.
CBC noted that the tentative deal – the details of which were not publicly revealed – was subject to the cabin crew’s ratification.
Patty Hajdu, minister of jobs and families, expressed gratitude on X to both sides of the conflict for their efforts to come to an agreement and their efforts throughout the bargaining process. Hajdu also thanked the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, including the special mediator.
Importance of summer tourism season
Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), emphasized that a work stoppage at WestJet would significantly impact the nation’s transportation network and hundreds of thousands of small businesses that depended on the summer tourism season.
In a recent statement regarding the WestJet strike and lockout, Kelly stressed that the consequences of a work stoppage at WestJet would be especially prominent during busy travel weekends this summer.
Kelly noted that CFIB’s research revealed that a third of Canada’s small businesses depended on summer tourism for their revenues.
“Even a short disruption could have a significant impact on business plans,” Kelly added. “A prolonged one that eliminates travel for half the summer would be devastating.
More on CFIB
As Canada’s biggest association of small and medium-sized businesses, CFIB has 103,000 members across all the country’s regions and industries.
According to CFIB’s media release, the federation seeks to help business owners succeed by promoting policy improvements at all government levels, offering the relevant tools and expert advice, and negotiating exclusive savings.
Other news involving CFIB
Here are some recent news stories concerning CFIB.
In its announcement of its most recent Monthly Business Barometer®, CFIB reported that overall small business confidence shot up to 58.3 index points last month, but stressed that its survey ran from July 7–13, before the latest US tariff threats came to light.
At the recent Council of the Federation meeting in Prince Edward Island, CFIB shared that it wanted premiers to prioritize small business tax relief and the elimination of internal trade barriers to support economic and entrepreneurial growth.
Jasmin Guenette, CFIB’s vice president of national affairs, supported senate bill S‑239 as a “constructive step” to help improve internal trade across Canada. CFIB also expressed support for the Committee on Internal Trade’s announcement regarding the expansion of the Canadian Mutual Recognition Agreement to cover services.
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