Pilots who work for Air Canada (AC) have chosen to begin collective bargaining for a new labour agreement this summer, a year earlier than required under their current contract.
The Air Canada Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) said it has invoked a clause to end the current 10-year agreement with the Montreal-based carrier after nine years.
As a result, the pilots will start labour negotiations this summer. The pilots’ current labour deal will remain in place until a new agreement is reached, said the union.
The move by Air Canada’s pilots to start collective bargaining early comes after pilots at rival carrier WestJet Airlines reached a new collective agreement that gives them a 24% pay increase over four years.
Wages are the main issue for pilots at Air Canada, according to the union.
Air Canada’s stock has declined 2% over the past 12 months to trade at $21.83 per share.
