A major Canadian airline has agreed to pay $4.5 million to resolve a sexual harassment class-action lawsuit involving more than 3,000 flight attendants, marking the conclusion of a legal battle that stretched across ten years.
A British Columbia judge approved the settlement terms Monday, finalizing an agreement reached in June. WestJet confirmed it is "pleased" to have reached the resolution with the affected workers.
A Long Road to Resolution
The lawsuit originated when former WestJet flight attendant Mandalena Lewis filed suit in 2016, alleging sexual assault by a pilot during a layover in Hawaii a decade prior. Her case gained momentum when additional women employed by the airline came forward with their own harassment experiences, leading the B.C. Court of Appeal to certify it as a class action in 2022.
The flight attendants argued that WestJet maintained inadequate workplace safety measures and failed to implement sufficient anti-harassment protocols to protect its crew members.
Settlement Details and Distribution
The $4.5 million settlement will be distributed among 3,452 certified class members after legal fees and administrative expenses are deducted. This calculation results in approximately $400 per flight attendant involved in the lawsuit.
A B.C. court also reduced Lewis's honorarium from an agreed-upon $20,000 to $10,000 as part of the final settlement approval.
Lead Plaintiff: Victory with Reservations
Lewis expressed mixed feelings about the outcome in an interview with CBC News Wednesday. "I'm relieved the legal process is over, and I'm proud we set an important legal precedent," she said. "However, I don't believe the settlement amount adequately reflects the harm experienced by these workers."
"It's the best we could get given the circumstances. I had to fight tooth and nail for these slivers." — Mandalena Lewis, lead plaintiff
Lewis emphasized that her role supporting over 100 former flight attendants through the litigation process took a severe physical and emotional toll throughout the years-long legal journey.
A significant aspect of the settlement is that WestJet did not admit to wrongdoing or liability in the agreement.
Moving Forward: Workplace Changes Ahead
Under the settlement terms, WestJet must retain an independent third-party consultant to conduct a comprehensive workplace assessment. This evaluation will examine the prevalence of harassment within the airline, identify patterns of underreporting, and recommend improvements to the company's reporting and response systems.
In a statement to media, WestJet said it remains "committed to strengthening our operations and training, focused on the safety and well-being of all WestJetters" and is "focused on advancing a culture of empowerment."
This article is based on reporting from CBC Calgary.