WestJet Airlines is cancelling flights after the union representing 670 aircraft technicians said it could strike on Thursday night.

Calgary-based WestJet cut about 40 flights on Tuesday and Wednesday, affecting 6,500 customers, as it parked plan cheap weed es and consolidated routes ahead of the 9 p.m. ET deadline on Thursday announced by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association.

The airline said it is taking the steps to reduce the chances of customers, crew and aircraft being stranded or abandoned at remote destinations.

The workers, who include maintenance engineers and other skilled trades, last week rejected by 97 per cent a tentative agreement. The company called the vote “deeply concerning,” and asked the Canadian Industrial Relations Board to step in and arbitrate the first collective agreement between the two sides. The CIRB has not responded.

“It is clear that the bargaining process has broken down,” said Diederik Pen, WestJet operating chief. He said the rejected agreement included pay raises of 30 to 40 per cent in the first year.

The union, meanwhile, said WestJet is not bargaining in good faith, and is offering wages that are 30-per-cent less than those of other North American airlines.

WestJet accounts for about one-third of the domestic market. It was scheduled to fly about 560 flights o weed stores near me n Wednesday, according aviation data company Cirium.

Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan said in a post to X, formerly Twitter, that he has referred the labour dispute to the CIRB.

“Strong first agreements set parties on the path of collective bargaining. That’s what we want to see here,” Mr. O’Regan said.

The CIRB, an administrative tribunal akin to a court, did not immediately respond to two weed store near me phone messages on Wednesday.