A British Columbia court has approved a $4.5-million settlement in a class-action lawsuit over workplace harassment of flight attendants at WestJet.<\/p>\n
The settlement was approved this week after a judge ruled it fair and in the best interest of the eligible employees, JFK Law states on its website.<\/p>\n
The lawsuit alleged that WestJet failed to live up to its contractual \u201cpromise\u201d to provide a harassment-free workplace.<\/p>\n
Former flight attendant Mandalena Lewis, who spearheaded the suit, said she is experiencing \u201ca whole wave of emotions\u201d at the moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI still feel anger,\u201d she said in a phone interview from her home in Victoria on Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m glad this is over,\u201d she qualified, framing the outcome as \u201cthe absolute best we could get.\u201d But the dollar amount \u2014 the settlement works out to less than $500 per recipient \u2014 and the measures required of the company fall short of what she initially hoped for.<\/p>\n
The agreement requires WestJet to retain a third party to conduct an assessment that looks at the prevalence of harassment in the workplace, underreporting and how response systems can be improved.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey don\u2019t have to do anything with that information,\u201d said Lewis.<\/p>\n
WestJet said Friday it was pleased to reach a settlement and will work to comply with it.<\/p>\n
\u201cEqually as important, we are committed to strengthening our operations and training, focused on the safety and well-being of all WestJetters and we are focused on advancing a culture of empowerment,\u201d said spokesperson Jen Booth in an email.<\/p>\n
The company confirmed that a judge signed off on the agreement.<\/p>\n
It does not amount to an admission of liability or wrongdoing by WestJet, the settlement states.<\/p>\n
The agreement applies to more than 3,400 current and former female flight attendants who worked for WestJet between April 2014 and February 2021, according to the law firm.<\/p>\n
An online claims portal is being prepared and those who submit valid claims could receive roughly $470, the firm said.<\/p>\n
The settlement marks the denouement of a legal saga that began in 2016, when Lewis filed a lawsuit in B.C. Supreme Court.<\/p>\n