November 13, 2026 — About 360 flight attendants at WestJet Encore, WestJet’s regional airline, have filed a notice of dispute with the Canadian government and asked for a federal conciliator, their union CUPE (Local 8125) said on November 9.
The filing does not mean a strike is coming. It starts a federal conciliation period of up to 60 days, followed by a 21-day cooling-off period. Only after that could either side issue 72-hour notice of a strike or lockout, and a legal strike would also need a successful strike vote. No vote has been announced, and Encore flights are operating normally.
| Step | Status / timing |
|---|---|
| Notice of dispute | Filed (announced Nov. 9, 2026) |
| Federal conciliation | Up to 60 days |
| Cooling-off period | 21 days after conciliation |
| Strike vote | Not announced |
| Earliest possible job action | TBA; needs a vote and 72 hours’ notice |
What it means for non-revs
- No disruption to Encore’s Dash 8 network for now; the earliest any job action could legally happen is roughly three months out.
- If you rely on Encore for regional Canadian connections in early 2027, keep an eye on this one before committing to tight itineraries.
Sources
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