Air Canada Pilots Vote to Strike Amid Negotiation Stalemate

Air Canada pilots have overwhelmingly voted in favor of a strike mandate, potentially positioning them to walk off the job as early as September 17. This decision comes as the pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), have been in negotiations with Air Canada since June 2023.

The results of the vote, released on Thursday, indicated that 98 percent of participating pilots supported the strike mandate. This shows a strong resolve among the pilots in their quest for a new collective agreement that addresses their concerns.

Charlene Hudy, chair of the Air Canada ALPA Master Executive Council, expressed that the vote sends a clear message to management regarding the pilots’ determination to secure a better deal. Hudy described the current contract as stale and outdated, highlighting that certain elements of their collective agreement date back to the period following the airline’s bankruptcy in 2003.

Despite some progress in negotiations, wages and scheduling issues remain significant stumbling blocks. Recently concluded contracts between major U.S. airlines and their pilots demonstrate that some U.S. flight crews earn considerably more than their Canadian counterparts, which adds pressure on Air Canada to provide competitive compensation.

Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Air Canada’s chief human resources officer, stated that while the parties have reached agreements on many articles of the collective agreement, the demand for wage increases is substantial. Michael Rousseau, CEO of Air Canada, has also noted that both sides are in agreement on several points and expressed hope for a resolution in the coming weeks.

The scheduled termination of the current federal conciliation process on August 26 will be followed by a 21-day cooling-off period. This timeline makes mid-September the earliest possible date for a potential strike should the negotiations not yield a satisfactory agreement.