The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), representing over 5,000 Air Canada pilots, announced on Sunday its intention to request assistance from a federal conciliator to break the deadlock in contract negotiations with the airline.
Despite a year of negotiations, including nearly six months of voluntary mediation, the two sides have failed to reach a deal. Charlene Hudy, the head of ALPA’s Air Canada unit, addressed union members in a video message, criticizing Air Canada’s valuation of pilot contributions.
“Unfortunately, Air Canada continues to undervalue your contributions to the success of this airline,” Hudy said.
While acknowledging that talks have resulted in some important agreements, Hudy stated that significant differences still remain, prompting the pilots to terminate the voluntary process on June 15.
ALPA plans to file a notice of dispute with the federal Minister of Labour, indicating that attempts to reach a collective agreement have been unsuccessful and requesting the appointment of a conciliator.
In response, Air Canada issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to achieving a fair negotiated agreement.
“Air Canada has worked diligently and in good faith to reach a new collective agreement with ALPA under the bargaining protocol, and these talks have led to significant progress,” the statement read.
The airline emphasized that it will continue to pursue an agreement through the regular bargaining process over the next few months, assuring customers that they can book and travel on Air Canada with confidence.
Canadian pilots have been advocating for improvements that would bring their compensation closer to what their U.S. counterparts have secured. Between March and September last year, pilots at Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and American Airlines negotiated agreements that included pay increases ranging from 34 per cent to 40 per cent over four years.
Hudy has criticized the wage gap between Canadian and American pilots, calling it “unacceptable.”
Under the Canada Labour Code, the federal Minister of Labour has up to 15 days to appoint a conciliator. Following the appointment, a 60-day negotiation period begins. If no agreement is reached during this period, there is a 21-day cooling-off period before the union would be legally able to initiate a strike.