Court approves $4.5 million settlement in WestJet flight attendant harassment suit, says law firm

A B.C. court has approved a $4.5-billion settlement in a class action against WestJet Group over workplace harassment, says the law firm representing female flight attendants.

The Supreme Court of British Columbia on Aug. 10 found that the settlement is fair, reasonable and in the best interests of the class, JFK Law LLP said on its website.

The settlement would apply to current and former female flight attendants who worked for WestJet mainline between April 4, 2014 and Feb. 28, 2021 and who did not opt out of the class action by June 8, 2024.

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The lawsuit alleges WestJet systemically breached the employment contracts of female flight attendants employed between those dates by failing to implement and enforce a contractually guaranteed promise to create and maintain a workplace free from harassment.

WestJet denies the allegations, which were not determined at trial, and the settlement does not constitute an admission of liability or wrongdoing.

The settlement amount will pay for court-approved legal fees, disbursements, applicable taxes, the representative plaintiff’s honorarium and settlement administration costs.

The remaining funds will then be paid to eligible class members who will have three months after receiving notice to submit valid claims.

As part of the settlement, WestJet is also required to retain an independent and qualified third party to conduct a workplace assessment addressing the prevalence of harassment in the workplace, the extent of underreporting and how harassment reporting and response systems can be made more effective.

The company will provide employees with a summary of the assessment findings.