In the latest development in their efforts to reach a new contractual agreement over pay, scheduling and retirement, disgruntled Air Canada pilots have overwhelmingly backed strike action.
In a recent union vote, 98% of Air Canada pilots authorized the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) to call a strike, although negotiations will continue in the short term.
With 98% of members participating, ALPA representatives will return to the negotiating table with Air Canada executives, fearing that potent strikes could come as early as mid-September.
First Officer Charlene Hudy, Chair of the Air Canada ALPA Master Executive Council, said: “Today, more than 5,400 Air Canada pilots sent a clear message to management that we are willing to go the distance to secure a contract that reflects the value we bring to Air Canada.”
Hudy said that their “goal is to avoid a strike” and “modernize” pilots’ contracts, but that ALPA members had been forced into this position by Air Canada “not listening to our needs”.
ALPA said that “fair compensation, respectable retirement benefits, and quality-of-life improvements” were all needed.
Negotiations for a new agreement began in June 2023, followed by private mediation between January 2024 and June 2024.
When mediation proved unsuccessful, ALPA decided to file a notice of dispute and enter conciliation.
“Air Canada pilots are committed to avoiding a strike and the flight disruptions that would follow, and that’s why we continue to negotiate in good faith,” Hudy said. “Air Canada management has the power – and the resources – to avoid a strike, flight disruptions, and lasting damage to its brand. All they have to do is recognize the value of their employees.”
According to CTV News, discussions between the two parties have continued in Toronto hotels since June under the guidance of a federal conciliator.
This process is due to conclude on August 26, 2024, and will then be followed by a 21-day cooling-off period.
The earliest date on which a strike could be held is September 17, 2024.