Air Canada's pilots have voted in favour of a strike if their employer fails to achieve a fair agreement with them.
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) Canada, the union representing Air Canada's pilots, said the pilots voted "overwhelmingly in favour" to authorize the union's leaders to call a strike on Thursday, Aug. 22.
A staggering 98 per cent of the pilots voted in favour of job action, urging their employer to make significant changes to their 10-year-old contract, including better wages, retirement benefits, and quality-of-life improvements.
The strike ballot closed at 10 a.m. EST and the union sent a news release hours later about the result.
Air Canada pilots last negotiated a contract ratified in 2014 and have been speaking with their employer for a new agreement since June 2023.
“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,” said First Officer Charlene Hudy, chair of the Air Canada ALPA Master Executive Council.
"After more than a year of negotiations, management must now come to the realization that if they fail to reach an agreement, they will be responsible for us withdrawing our services.”
Air Canada pilots vote to strike to improve wages and benefits
Hudy told V.I.A. in an interview on Tuesday that the pilots want to avoid taking job action but their contract falls "substantially short" of recently ratified contracts at comparative airlines, such as United, Delta, and American.
"We are focused on achieving a deal with Air Canada. We are asking them to show up, negotiate, and close the gap. We have a concern with the wages. The pilots I represent are making half of what pilots in the U.S. do," she said.
ALPA said Thursday that the pilots are "prepared for any outcome, thanks in large part to a $5 million (USD) grant from their union’s war chest" that it authorized to support the final stage of contract negotiations.
“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,” continued Hudy. “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.”
Air Canada pilots can legally strike as early as mid-September if no agreement has been reached.
A representative for Air Canada previously told V.I.A. that the airline is "operating as normal" and has reached an "agreement on several items" with the union.
"We are working actively to reach [an] agreement on the remaining issues with an aim to finalize a deal over the next several weeks." the airline said.
Air Canada has a dedicated to the pilot talks and other negotiations.
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