Just as people across Canada are hoping to head to a far off beach, talks of strike action have overwhelmed Air Transat.
Photo Credit: @rrr1229 on Twitter.
On Monday, Air Transat pilots, with an overwhelming majority, voted to authorize a legal strike pursuant to Canada Labour Law.
A total of 97 per cent of the 524 pilots who voted (and make up 96 per cent of those who could) voted in support of a withdrawal of services, if required.
"These results serve as a notice to the Company that our pilots are united and stand firm behind our goal of achieving a fair and equitable contract," said Capt. Patrice Roy, chairman of Air Transat's ALPA Master Executive Council, in a statement.
For the past year they have been negotiating a new contract, and their agreement officially expired on April 30th, 2015.
Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) and Air Transat management have not seen the issue eye-to-eye.
In December, the pilots got Canada's Minister of Labour to intervene, saying that management's proposal would keep Air Transat's pilots below the industry standard for the term of the agreement.
Once the Minister of Labour received the pilots' official request, a 60-day conciliation period commenced.
On February 7, 2016, the deadline for an agreement will hit.
"Our pilots are seeking a contract that recognizes their contribution to the success of an airline that they have not only helped to build but also played a key role in ensuring its continuing longevity when the airline experienced financial difficulties a few years ago," said Capt. Roy.
While the strike decision doesn’t necessarily mean action, it can have an effect at the bargaining table, he continued.
