by Marsha Mowers
Last updated: 3:25 PM ET, Thu September 12, 2024
Air Canada is urging the federal government to be ready to step in should talks between the airline and its pilots continue to stall. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) which represents 5,200 pilots at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge will be in a legal strike or lock-out position as early as next Wednesday, September 18.
The airline says government direction for binding arbitration will be necessary to avoid a major disruption of air travel that would upset the plans of 110,000 or more travellers a day and delay time-sensitive cargo shipments.
There have now been 100 days of meetings in contract negotiations between the company and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), and the airline says a tentative agreement has been reached on 70 per cent of the more than 1,000 proposed changes suggested by ALPA.
Air Canada says they have offered unprecedented wage increases, which the union has refused, publicly citing U.S. based wage levels.
"With talks nearing an impasse and time for negotiation running out, the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of Canadians are hanging in the balance. We are taking all measures to mitigate any impact, but the reality is even a short work stoppage at Air Canada could, given the complexity of our business operating on a global scale, cause prolonged disruption for customers. So, while we remain committed to reaching a negotiated settlement with ALPA, the federal government should be prepared to intervene if talks fail before any travel disruption starts," said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive of Air Canada.
The parties have met for 100 days over the past 15 months, during which 1,110 issues have been subject to negotiation. Over this time, the parties have tentatively agreed to amend over 70 per cent of the articles to improve and modernize their collective agreement. These include a 30 per cent wage increase, which is unprecedented in Canada, significant improvements to the pilots' defined benefit pension and health care plans, greater work-life balance provisions, and scheduling improvements that among other things give pilots more time at home. In return, Air Canada has sought no concessions.
On September 9, 2024, Air Canada said it is preparing contingency plans to suspend flying through an orderly wind down of operations. It would begin once a 72-hour strike or lock-out notice is issued, which can occur any time after 00:01 EDT on Sunday, September 15. Flights throughout the system would be progressively cancelled over three days, with a complete shutdown as early as 00:01 EDT on Wednesday, September 18. Services by Air Canada Express would not be affected.
For more information about Air Canada's ongoing contract negotiations with the ALPA, please see https://media.aircanada.com/labour-relations
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