UPDATED: Air Canada pilots vote overwhelmingly to give union leaders a strike mandate

Air Canada pilots have voted overwhelmingly to give their union leaders a strike mandate.

Represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), 98 per cent of Air Canada pilots voted in favour of authorizing their union leaders to call a strike if necessary, in order to achieve a new contractual agreement with Air Canada.

In a statement following the vote, ALPA said that Air Canada pilots are working under pay rates and quality-of-life provisions negotiated in 2014. Negotiations for a new agreement began in June 2023. Talks entered private mediation in January 2024 and lasted until June 2024, at which point the union decided to file a notice of dispute and enter conciliation because the two sides were unable to reach a new collective agreement.

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 continued: “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. After more than a year of negotiations, management must now to come to the realization that if they fail to reach an agreement, they will be responsible for us withdrawing our services.”

The union also indicated that Air Canada pilots are prepared for any outcome, thanks in large part to a $5 million (USD) grant from their union’s war chest, which was unanimously authorized by ALPA’s Executive Board to support contact negotiations in this final stage.

Said Hudy: “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.”

First Officer Hudy added: “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 will be in a legal position to commence job action as early as mid-September if no agreement has been reached by the end of the cooling-off period.

For more, go to www.aircanadapilots.ca

Air Canada Comments 

Air Canada provided the following updates on its ongoing negotiations for a new collective agreement with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents Air Canada’s more than 5,200 pilots.

Air Canada acknowledged the result of its pilots’ vote in favour of a strike, should the company not reach an agreement through the ongoing negotiations with ALPA.

In its statement, the airline said: “Such a vote is a normal step in a negotiation process and does not mean that any disruption will take place. In fact, a strike cannot take place before the end of the current conciliation period, followed by a 21-day cooling-off period. For more information on the bargaining process.”

And Air Canada added that it “remains committed to the bargaining process and will continue to work towards a fair and equitable collective agreement with ALPA that recognizes the contributions of our pilots and supports the competitiveness and long-term growth of our company.”

Check out a video statement from Air Canada’s Executive Vice-President, Chief Human Resources Officer and Public Affairs, Arielle Meloul-Wechsler by CLICKING HERE.

For more, go to https://media.aircanada.com/Background-on-negotiation-process