Air Canada pilots have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike that could see thousands of pilots hit the picket lines next month.
On Thursday, the Air Line Pilots Association, which represents more than 5,400 pilots at Air Canada, says its pilots voted 98 per cent in favour of job action, if it does not reach a deal with the airline.
According to the union, negotiations for a new agreement began in June 2023. Later in January of this year, talks entered private mediation which lasted until June. Afterwards, the union filed a notice of dispute and entered conciliation because the two sides were unable to reach a new collective agreement.
“Our goal is to avoid a strike, and our focus remains on modernizing our contract for Air Canada pilots. However, management continues to force us closer to a strike position by not listening to our needs at the negotiating table regarding fair compensation, respectable retirement benefits, and quality-of-life improvements,” First Officer Charlene Hudy, Chair of the Air Canada ALPA Master Executive Council, said in a statement on Thursday.
In response, Air Canada says the vote is a normal step in the negotiation process and does not guarantee a strike will take place. Its bargaining process states that a strike cannot occur before the end of the current conciliation period, followed by a 21-day cooling-off period.
Back in June, WestJet mechanics also went on strike and as a result, more than 1,200 flights were cancelled.
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“Air Canada remains committed to the bargaining process and will continue to work towards a fair and equitable collective agreement with ALPA that recognizes the contributions of our pilots and supports the competitiveness and long-term growth of our company,” it said in a statement on Thursday.
Air Canada pilots will be in a legal position as of Sept. 17, if no agreement is reached by the end of the cooling-off period.
WHAT TRAVELLERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THEIR RIGHTS
In the event of a strike, non-profit organization Air Passenger Rights says it is vital to be aware of one’s rights as a traveller.
According to the organization, all large airline carriers in Canada must offer the following two options.
Option 1: Continuing to Travel
- The airline must rebook a traveller free of charge on the next available flight operated by that airline or another carrier within 48 hours of your original departure time, and if that fails, on the next available flight from any competing airline.
- Meals and overnight accommodation while waiting for the alternate transportation
- Cash compensation for the inconvenience of up to $1,000 CAD per passenger depending on the length of delay that is experienced, compared to the scheduled arrival time.
- Transportation to another airport if your new departure is from a different airport than the one you are located
Option 2: Refund and Return to Point of Origin
- A traveller is entitled to choose to not travel anymore and choose a full refund of the ticket in their original form of payment and within 30 days of all unused flight segments and segments that no longer serve any purpose. The airline must also fly you back to your original destination, free of charge.
- Cash compensation in the amount of $400 per passenger for your inconvenience (if you were notified about the cancellation 14 days or less before your travel date).
- Additional compensation for out-of-pocket expenses such as meals, hotels, and lost wages, as well as any inconvenience, depending on your travel’s origin and destination.
For more details on passenger rights, click here.
