Air Transat and Pilots’ Union Report Progress in Strike Deadline Talks
Air Transat is currently engaged in negotiations with the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) as the deadline for a potential strike looms. Despite both parties acknowledging some progress, significant disagreements remain, particularly regarding proposed wage increases.
Current Negotiation Status
Both Air Transat and ALPA have been in continuous talks since January. The airline recently claimed to offer a 59% wage increase over five years, along with improved working conditions. This figure, however, has been disputed by the union.
- Airline Position: The airline states that the proposed 59% increase is an average across all pay scales.
- Union Response: Capt. Tim Perry, president of ALPA Canada, argued that the figure is misleading and not reflective of what is on the table.
Potential Strike Timeline
ALPA has issued a 72-hour strike notice, indicating that pilots could begin walking off the job as early as Wednesday at 3 a.m. ET. In anticipation of this, the airline plans to gradually shut down its operations if an agreement is not reached shortly.
- Strike Notice Date: Sunday, with a potential strike starting Wednesday.
- Operational Impact: Air Transat has confirmed that flights on December 8 will operate normally for now.
Areas of Disagreement
The ongoing negotiations are centered around several key issues:
- Wages
- Benefits
- Work regulations
- Job security
Capt. Louis-Éric Mongrain, vice-president of ALPA Canada, expressed a desire to reach an agreement before the strike deadline. He noted that while disagreements persist, the gap is closing.
Both parties recognize the importance of negotiating an agreement directly rather than resorting to arbitration, which could impose rigid rules.
As discussions continue, Air Transat remains hopeful that a consensus will be reached to avoid operational disruptions and uphold service reliability.
