\n<\/p>\n
(Reuters) -Canada’s WestJet Airlines has begun cancelling flights again after a union representing its maintenance engineers rejected a new pay offer and served a second strike notice, the carrier said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
WestJet said this action would lead to an estimated 25 flight cancellations from June 27-28 and impact over 3,300 travellers. The airline had earlier in the day said that the work stoppage could occur as soon as June 28.<\/p>\n
It is not clear how long the strike could go on for.<\/p>\n
WestJet, which is backed by Onex Corp and competes with Air Canada, has been facing demands from employees for better working conditions and higher salaries.<\/p>\n
WestJet said it presented the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) with a “Canadian industry-leading agreement,” which was better than the previous agreement that was rejected by the union earlier in the day.<\/p>\n
The offer that was rejected had presented aircraft maintenance engineers with a 22% pay increase over four years.<\/p>\n
AMFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n
“It is especially devastating that the strike notice we have received from AMFA forces us to begin cancelling flights and parking aircraft, for the second time in just over a week,” said Diederik Pen, president of WestJet Airlines and group chief operating officer.<\/p>\n
The Calgary-based airline last week canceled 40 flights that affected 6,500 customers after it was sent a 72-hour strike notice by the union. The union withdrew the strike notice on June 20 and agreed to return to discussions.<\/p>\n
(Reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal in Bengaluru; Editing by Janane Venkatraman and Sonia Cheema)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n