Canada’s second-largest airline WestJet on Saturday has cancelled a minimum of 150 flights following a strike by Plane Mechanics Fraternal Affiliation which incorporates the airline’s upkeep employees, affecting almost 20,000 passengers.In the meantime, the union claims that the strike was inevitable as a result of airline’s “unwillingness to barter with the union”.Earlier, a ministerial order for binding arbitration was issued by the federal authorities on Thursday, which got here after two weeks of discussions between the airline and the union concerning a brand new settlement. “The union confirmed they may abide by the route. Given this, a strike or lockout won’t happen, and the airline will not proceed in cancelling flights,” the airline stated on Thursday.The sudden strike, which coincides with the Canada Day lengthy weekend, is affecting each worldwide and home flights. In the meantime, WestJet stated that it’s going to maintain the union totally accountable for the pointless stress and prices incurred by the strike. Nevertheless, in an replace to its members, the union negotiating committee referred to an order by the Canada Industrial Relations Board that doesn’t explicitly prohibit strikes or lockouts whereas the tribunal proceeds with arbitration.