As the deadline of Sept. 17 approaches, Air Canada is facing the possibility of a strike by its pilots. The Air Line Pilots Association and Air Canada are currently in a three-week cooling off period as mandated by Canadian law, starting from Aug. 27 and ending on Sept. 17. The pilots’ strike-authorizing vote on Aug. 22 saw an overwhelming approval rate of 98%.
Negotiations for a new labor contract for Air Canada’s pilots began in June 2023, following a contract negotiated in 2014. Private mediation efforts took place between January and June, but were ultimately discontinued by the union. Despite this, Air Canada has expressed its commitment to reaching a negotiated settlement with its pilots to avoid a strike.
In light of the uncertainty surrounding the strike, Air Canada has taken steps to offer flexibility to its passengers. Customers with bookings for travel between Sept. 15 and Sept. 23 can rebook their flights with the same origin and destination up to Nov. 30 without change fees and fare differences. For flights after Nov. 30, a change fee will not apply, but fare differences will be charged.
The Air Line Pilots Association has stated that it is dedicated to avoiding a strike and is actively engaged in negotiations with Air Canada. However, the union has also made it clear that it is prepared for any outcome. The union’s chair, Charlene Hudy, emphasized the importance of Air Canada recognizing the value of its employees to prevent a strike and minimize disruptions.
Opposition and Dispute
Aside from the pilots’ strike, the Air Line Pilots Association has expressed opposition to a decision made by the Canada Industrial Relations Board involving striking freight train workers. The imposition of binding arbitration between the Teamsters union and Canada’s two largest freight railway companies has been met with criticism from ALPA. The union denounced the decision, further complicating labor relations in the transportation sector.
Overall, the looming threat of a pilots’ strike at Air Canada has created uncertainty for passengers and added strain to the relationship between the airline and its employees. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether a negotiated settlement can be reached, or if the airline will face disruptions and damage to its reputation.
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