Air Canada’s pilots have ended a decade-long contract framework, opening the door to “full bargaining this summer season,” their union management mentioned on Monday in a word to members seen by Reuters.
Air Canada pilots have beforehand mentioned they’re urgent for “historic” beneficial properties to slim the earnings hole with higher-paid aviators at U.S. carriers.
Their counterparts at Onex Corp’s WestJet Airways reached a tentative settlement that might supply a 24 per cent hourly increase over 4 years, plus different pay and advantages.
The estimated 4,500 pilots at Canada’s largest service have obtained a two per cent wage enhance per yr since reaching a deal in 2014.
The union had a Monday deadline for utilizing a sort of escape clause that might permit for negotiations this yr. The settlement now runs till Sept. 29, 2023, though its provisions will apply past that date.
“We have been keen to fulfill with the corporate in the event that they needed to supply us with a considerable proposal that might additional our membership’s targets,” mentioned the letter, including Air Canada didn’t search to open discussions.
Discover to cut price anticipated in June
The Air Canada pilots group, which joined the Air Line Pilots Affiliation (ALPA) this month, mentioned in a separate doc it expects a discover to cut price to be supplied in early June.
“Our pilots could elect to make use of the choice that was out there to them to provoke bargaining for a brand new collective settlement,” Montreal-based Air Canada mentioned in an emailed assertion.
“The present settlement, which has been in place for 9 years, is testimony of the productive relationship we’ve got with our pilots.”
U.S. pilots made beneficial properties in a current tentative settlement with American Airways and a separate cope with Delta Air Traces that delivers a 34 per cent pay enhance over 4 years.