A massive labour action is looming over Canada's holiday travel season, as pilots at Air Transat have delivered a powerful strike mandate against the airline.
Overwhelming Vote for Strike Action
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), representing approximately 700 pilots at the carrier, announced the results of a strike vote on Wednesday. An astounding 99 per cent of pilots voted in favour of taking job action, with a near-total participation rate of 98 per cent of members casting a ballot.
While this is not a formal strike notice, the union stated its members are "prepared for any outcome." The pilots' current collective agreement expired in April, and negotiations for a new contract began in January.
Key Issues and a "Big Spread" in Negotiations
Union chair, Captain Bradley Small, told the National Post that pilots are seeking a "modern contract" that brings them in line with industry standards, specifically referencing agreements signed by their peers at Air Canada and WestJet.
The key issues on the table include:
- Improved working conditions and scheduling
- Enhanced insurance coverage and retirement security
- Competitive compensation
- Job security provisions to limit the outsourcing of pilots
"Right now, between what the company is offering and where we say we have to be to be at industry standards, there's quite a big spread," Small said on Thursday. He accused the company of being largely absent from negotiations over the summer, leading the union to request federal conciliators.
Critical Deadline and Potential Disruption
The situation is now at a critical juncture. A 21-day cooling-off period, which followed unsuccessful mediated talks, is set to expire at midnight on Sunday, December 8. After that deadline passes, the union can issue a legally required 72-hour strike notice.
This timeline means that Air Transat pilots could legally be on strike as early as Wednesday, December 10, squarely in the middle of the peak holiday travel period. Alternatively, the company could force a lockout.
In a statement, Air Transat's Vice President of Operations, Dave Bourdages, said significant progress had been made with the help of conciliators and that the goal remains to reach a deal that "satisfies both parties, reflects market realities and those of the company, and recognizes the contribution of our pilots."
Captain Small emphasized that striking is a last resort. "Nobody wants to strike," he said. "The company doesn't want that. The pilots don't want that. But we also want a fair agreement." He added that management will have to "work pretty hard" to bridge the gap and avoid a work stoppage that would disrupt thousands of travelers' plans.
