WestJet has reached a settlement agreement valued at C$4.5 million to resolve a sexual harassment class action lawsuit filed by female flight attendants. A British Columbia judge approved the settlement terms on Monday, following negotiations that concluded on 22 June. The payment will be distributed among 3,452 flight attendants included in the class action after deductions for legal fees and other expenses are made.
The lawsuit originated from allegations brought by former flight attendant Mandalena Lewis, who reported that a pilot sexually assaulted her and a colleague. According to Lewis, WestJet continued to employ the pilot despite knowledge of the incidents, creating an unsafe environment for other employees. Lewis alleged the pilot assaulted her during a layover in Hawaii in 2010 and had previously assaulted another flight attendant in 2008. After reporting the assault to WestJet, Lewis was terminated in 2016 for alleged gross insubordination, which she contends was retaliation for her efforts to hold the airline accountable.
The class action encompassed all female flight attendants employed by WestJet between April 2014 and February 2021, based on allegations that the airline violated employment contracts by failing to maintain a harassment-free workplace as promised in company policy. Eight class members sought to prevent settlement approval earlier this year, expressing concerns about the payout amount and the absence of explicit accountability measures from WestJet.
The settlement terms do not include mandatory anti-harassment training requirements for pilots, a formal admission of wrongdoing, or acknowledgment of contract breaches as originally sought. However, WestJet agreed to engage a third party to conduct a workplace inquiry examining harassment prevalence, underreporting patterns, and potential improvements to reporting mechanisms. Lewis expressed disappointment with the outcome, noting the settlement amount was substantially less than a previous baggage fee class action payout received by the airline.
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