Air Canada pilots gear up for strike as wage negotiations reach an impasse

Those flying in and out of Victoria may be affected by a pilots’ strike in the coming weeks. 

Air Canada and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) have been in negotiations for an agreement that works for both parties, but currently both the union and the airline remain divided. 

The ALPA and Air Canada have been in discussions for 15 months now and although the two organizations have agreed on a large number of items for a new collective agreement, the union’s wage demands remain incongruous.

Currently, Air Canada pilots are working under pay rates that were negotiated in 2014.

Because negotiations have reached an impasse, if an agreement can’t be reached by September 15th, then either party will be able to issue a 72-hour notice of a strike or lockout, respectively. 

If this notice is given by either party, Air Canada says it will initiate its three-day wind down plan. 

“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. 

“Our goal is to avoid a strike, and our focus remains on modernizing our contract for Air Canada pilots. However, management continues to force us closer to a strike position by not listening to our needs at the negotiating table regarding fair compensation, respectable retirement benefits, and quality-of-life improvements.”

Hudy added that after more than a year of negotiations, Air Canada management will be responsible for the ensuing strike.

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Meanwhile the airline insists its pilots already receive fair compensation. 

“Air Canada believes there is still time to reach an agreement with our pilot group, provided ALPA moderates its wage demands which far exceed average Canadian wage increases,” said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada.

“However, Canadians have recently seen the chaos abrupt airline shutdowns cause for travellers, which obliges us to do everything we can to protect our customers from an increasingly likely work stoppage.”

Air Canada says that all customers whose flights are cancelled will be notified and will be eligible for a full refund.

Since August 27th, Air Canada has initiated a goodwill policy allowing customers with bookings between September 15th and 23rd, to be protected. This policy may be expanded if a strike or lockout occurs.

Air Canada says that unless a settlement is achieved within the 72-hour notice period, if given, approximately 110,000 customers could be impacted daily. 

They added that cargo operations would also be affected.