Canadian airline WestJet agrees to settle flight attendants’ sexual harassment class action

Canadian airline WestJet has agreed to a C$4.5 million settlement to resolve a decade-long class action lawsuit brought by female flight attendants. The lawsuit, initiated by Mandalena Lewis in 2016, alleged that the airline failed to maintain a safe workplace and failed to act on reports of sexual assault, specifically regarding a pilot who allegedly assaulted Lewis and a colleague. A British Columbia judge has approved the settlement terms, which will be distributed among 3,452 flight attendants after legal fees and expenses are deducted.

As part of the agreement, WestJet will hire a third party to conduct a workplace inquiry into the prevalence of harassment and the effectiveness of current reporting systems. However, the settlement does not include an admission of wrongdoing or the mandatory anti-harassment training for pilots that the plaintiffs had requested. Lewis expressed exhaustion and disappointment with the payout amount, noting that it was significantly less than previous settlements for other class actions involving the airline.

The case has highlighted broader systemic issues within the aviation industry, including a 2018 survey showing that 68% of flight attendants have experienced sexual harassment, while only 7% reported it to their employers. While WestJet stated it is "pleased to have reached a mutually agreed upon settlement" and remains committed to employee safety, the plaintiffs expressed that the outcome did not provide the justice they sought.

(Source：The Guardian)