Air Canada pilots have voted overwhelmingly to call for a strike mandate if negotiations with the carrier do not proceed.
The International Airline Pilots Association (ALPA) announced on Thursday that 98% of the airline’s 5,400 pilots voted in favor of a work stoppage, “if necessary” from mid-September to reach an agreement.
“Air Canada pilots are still working with pay rates and quality of life clauses that were set in 2014,” the union said in a press release. Negotiations to conclude a new agreement have been ongoing since June 2023.
However, the pilots say they want to avoid the strike and the resulting disruption to flight schedules.
“Air Canada management has the necessary power and resources [l’éviter]. Air Canada simply recognizes the value of its employees,” said Charlene Hudy, President of the Air Canada Executive Council.