Canadian airline WestJet has agreed to pay C$4.5m (£2.4m) to settle a class action lawsuit from its female flight attendants. The lawsuit, which spanned a decade, alleged the company failed to maintain a safe workplace.
A British Columbia judge approved the settlement terms on Monday, following negotiations that concluded on 22 June. The payment will be distributed among the 3,452 flight attendants involved in the class action after legal and other expenses are deducted.
The lawsuit stemmed from allegations by former flight attendant Mandalena Lewis, who claimed a pilot sexually assaulted her and a colleague. Lewis alleged WestJet kept the pilot flying, potentially endangering other employees.
As part of the settlement, WestJet has agreed to hire a third-party to conduct a workplace inquiry. This inquiry will examine the prevalence of harassment, the extent of underreporting, and how reporting systems can be made more effective.
Lewis, who filed the initial class action in April 2016, expressed dismay with the outcome, noting that calls for mandatory anti-harassment training for pilots, an admission of wrongdoing, and a breach of employee contract were not included in the settlement.