WestJet has agreed to pay $4.5 million to settle a sexual harassment class-action lawsuit initiated ten years ago involving over 3,000 flight attendants, according to the lead plaintiff and her legal representative. The settlement terms, finalized in June, were approved by a B.C. judge on Monday. WestJet expressed satisfaction with reaching a settlement.
The lawsuit was triggered by former flight attendant Mandalena Lewis, who accused a pilot of assaulting her during a layover in Hawaii in 2010. After filing the lawsuit in 2016, additional female employees from the airline came forward, leading to the case being certified as a class action by the B.C. Court of Appeal in 2022.
Flight attendants alleged that WestJet did not provide a safe work environment with adequate measures against harassment. Lewis, speaking to CBC News, mentioned feeling relieved that the case concluded but expressed disappointment in not achieving what she considers “full justice.” She highlighted her dissatisfaction with the symbolic monetary amount and WestJet’s lack of admission of wrongdoing in the settlement.
The $4.5 million settlement will be divided among 3,452 flight attendants after deducting expenses, including legal fees, averaging about $400 per attendant involved in the lawsuit. Lewis also mentioned that the judge reduced her honorarium from $20,000 to $10,000 as per the settlement agreement.
WestJet stated in an email to CBC News its commitment to enhancing operations and training to ensure the safety and well-being of its employees, aiming to promote a culture of empowerment. As part of the settlement terms, WestJet will engage a third-party consultant to conduct a workplace assessment to gauge workplace harassment prevalence, underreporting extent, and enhance reporting and response systems.
Lewis described the legal process as a “nightmare,” noting the toll supporting over 100 former flight attendants affected by sexual harassment took on her physically and emotionally. She emphasized that the issue of sexual assault and harassment of female flight attendants is a deep-rooted problem in the airline industry that persists today.
Regarding WestJet’s handling of the settlement, lawyer Joshua Coratti from the Toronto law firm Ball Professional Corporation deemed it a favorable outcome for the airline, as it relieves them of individual liability claims which could have been more costly. He mentioned that while individual plaintiffs may receive less in monetary compensation in class-action lawsuits, the legal fees are typically significant, benefitting the lawyers involved.