WestJet aircraft mechanic strike continues to affect travellers in Kamloops, Okanagan

The WestJet aircraft mechanic strike that started on Friday is ongoing and affecting flights in Kamloops and the Okanagan. The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association told its members to cease work on Friday night resulting in cancelled WestJet flights around the country, according to an update posted to the union’s website.  Travellers who planned on taking a WestJet flight out of airports in Kelowna https://ylw.kelowna.ca/passengers/passenger-updates , Penticton https://yyf.penticton.ca/flights/departures , Vernon https://www.vernon.ca/roads-transportation/airport , and Kamloops https://kamloopsairport.com/flights/ have been advised to check their flight status. READ MORE: WestJet cancels hundreds of flights following surprise mechanics union strike https://infotel.ca/newsitem/westjet-mechanics/cp1569031440 The mechanic association is set to continue negotiations with the airline this morning. “Last night, the Canadian Industrial Relations Board ruled, yet again, that the aircraft maintenance engineers have a right to withhold their labour. This is a “sacred” right under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that permits workers to stand shoulder to shoulder in an effort to improve their lives,” the association said in an update. READ MORE:Why we really need you to sign up to our newsletter https://infotel.ca/opinion/jonesie/jonesie-how-canadian-news-became-victims-in-its-own-story/it105120 There have been 235 cancelled flights and 33,000 fliers impacted, according to a WestJet press release. “This situation is devastating. The union’s irrational actions are single-handedly causing irrevocable damage to our guests who are missing wedding celebrations, critical medical appointments, family reunions and long-awaited vacations, while stranding thousands of Canadians who are left without support or a flight home,” WestJet’s president Diederik Pen said in the release. “We are seeking every avenue for intervention and working around the clock to maintain a stable network, while we reduce our flying in a safe and controlled manner.” Click here for updates from the mechanic association. https://www.amfanational.org/?zone=/unionactive/view_page.cfm&page=WestJet To contact a reporter for this story, email Jesse Tomas mailto:jtomas@infonews.ca  or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .