(Reuters) -Canadian airline WestJet Airlines said on Thursday it is working to resume normal operations after the union representing its maintenance engineers rescinded its strike notice, and both sides agreed to return to the negotiating table.
WestJet, which is backed by Onex Corp and competes with Air Canada, has been facing demands from its employees for better working conditions and higher wages.
WestJet is now trying to resume normal operations after the airline said Wednesday that 40 flights would be canceled between June 18 and 19, affecting 6,500 customers.
The parties had appeared before the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to discuss the conflict between the airline and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) union.
AMFA said in a statement on Thursday that the CIRB had rejected WestJet's request for an injunction that would have
prevented the workers from going on strike.
The CIRB has said it will require additional time and submissions from both parties before making a decision on the need for arbitration, WestJet said.
The union, which was scheduled to begin the strike Thursday at 9:00 p.m. ET, rescinded its notice, the company said.
“As we return to the negotiating table, we are committed to finding a solution to avoid further disruption to our operations,” WestJet president and group chief operating officer Diederik Pen said in a statement.
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