A surprise strike by unionized airline mechanics at WestJet has left thousands of the airline害羞草研究所檚 passengers wondering whether they will get to their destinations today after the airline cancelled more than 150 flights.

The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) announced its members started to strike around 5:30 p.m. MDT Friday because the airline害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渦nwillingness to negotiate with the union made the strike inevitable.害羞草研究所�

The move came after the federal government issued a ministerial order for binding arbitration on Thursday.

The order followed two weeks of turbulent discussions with the union on a new deal.

Federal Labour Minister Seamus O害羞草研究所橰egan issued a brief statement on Saturday morning saying he was reviewing the order by the Canada Industrial Relations Board, calling it 害羞草研究所渃learly inconsistent害羞草研究所� with the direction he provided.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚 will be looking at additional steps to protect the interests of the employer, the union and all Canadians travelling over this national holiday weekend,害羞草研究所� said O害羞草研究所橰egan.

In an update to its membership, the union posted a letter from the board regarding its decision in which it said that the ministerial referral 害羞草研究所渄oes not have the effect of suspending the right to strike or lockout.害羞草研究所�

Calgary-based WestJet lambasted the move by the mechanics union, saying it害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渆xtremely outraged at these actions and will hold AMFA 100 per cent accountable for the unnecessary stress and costs incurred as a result.害羞草研究所�

The threat of a strike seemed to recede on Thursday when WestJet said AMFA had 害羞草研究所渃onfirmed they will abide by the direction. Given this, a strike or lockout will not occur, and the airline will no longer proceed in cancelling flights.害羞草研究所�

Friday害羞草研究所檚 change in position seemed to shock travellers and executives alike.

害羞草研究所淚s my flight on Sunday in jeopardy?害羞草研究所� asked Andrew Wheatley of Edmonton in a post to X.

害羞草研究所淚 support a union害羞草研究所檚 right to strike if it害羞草研究所檚 legal. And hopefully, they will get a good deal. But at the same time, I have to be at work Monday morning,害羞草研究所� he added.

This isn害羞草研究所檛 the first time labour unrest at WestJet has affected holiday weekend travel plans. The airline averted a strike last year in the early hours of the May long weekend, but before cancelling over 230 flights and forcing thousands of people to have their travel plans changed.

- with files from Christopher Reynolds in Montr茅al and Keith Doucette in Halifax

The Canadian Press