Air Canada pilots have voted overwhelmingly in favor of strike authorization, with 98% of voting members supporting the measure.
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), representing over 5,000 Air Canada pilots, announced the results on Thursday. This move comes as pilots seek significant improvements in their contracts to address wage disparities with their US counterparts.
Negotiations between Air Canada and its pilots began last summer, aiming to update a decade-long contract framework. Key issues include wages and scheduling, with union representatives highlighting a substantial pay gap compared to pilots at major US airlines.
Charlene Hudy, who leads the local ALPA unit, emphasized the need to modernize the contract, noting that some elements date back to the airline’s post-bankruptcy period.
Despite the strike authorization, both parties have indicated that they want to avoid a work stoppage. Air Canada has committed to continuing negotiations towards a new collective agreement.
The earliest possible strike date would be September 17, following the conclusion of the current conciliation period and a mandatory 21-day cooling-off period.
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