Members of the Air Line Pilots Association talk at the Air Transat Pilot Strike Centre in Montreal on Wednesday.Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press
Air Transat TRZ-T pilots have overwhelmingly voted to strike if contract talks between the Air Line Pilots Association and the company fail.
Either side can issue a 72-hour notice of a strike or lockout on Dec. 10, ahead of the key holiday travel season.
The strike mandate was supported by 99 per cent of the ballots cast, the union said on Wednesday. The union, which represents more than 700 pilots, and the Montreal-based company have been in talks for a new collective agreement since January.
Bradley Small, a pilot and union executive, said pilots are tired of working under an agreement signed 10 years ago. “This vote sends an undeniable message to Air Transat management: We are unified, resolute and have earned a contract that reflects today’s industry standards, not the standards from 2015,” Mr. Small said.
The pilots are seeking better pay, working conditions and job security.
“We do not want to strike,” Mr. Small said. “Our goal remains to reach an equitable agreement at the negotiating table. However, after nearly a year of slow bargaining and little progress, we urge management to utilize the remaining time and negotiate seriously to avoid operational and flight disruptions.”
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The airline’s pilots want raises inspired by the contract their Air Canada counterparts signed last year. Air Canada’s 5,200 pilots agreed to a contract that provided raises of 42 per cent over four years.
Transat spokeswoman Alex-Anne Carrier said the strike vote is a common step in the collective bargaining process, and it does not mean a stoppage will happen. Negotiations are continuing full time with the help of government-appointed conciliators, and talks have led to progress toward a deal, she said.
“We are confident that we will reach an agreement and thereby avoid any impact on our customers’ travel plans,” Ms. Carrier said. “The goal remains to negotiate a collective agreement that satisfies both parties, reflects market realities and those of the company, and recognizes the contribution of our pilots.”
Transat AT, the airline’s operating company, is struggling to turn a profit and reduce debt incurred after a taxpayer bailout early in the COVID-19 pandemic. The company is also facing a battle for the control of its boardroom led by disgruntled investor Pierre Karl Péladeau.
The high-profile businessman and head of Quebecor Inc. said on Monday he is seeking to replace Transat’s chair and cut the 11-member board of directors to six after years of what he calls financial and operational underperformance.