Air Canada Set to Begin Negotiations with Pilots Following WestJet Action

Air Canada will sit down with its pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), to negotiate a new labor deal.

In a statement published to Twitter Air Canada ALPA Pilots said: “The Air Canada (ACA) MEC [Master Executive Council – ed. note] does not deem the Air Canada benchmarks as met. Full bargaining to commence this summer.”

Meanwhile, an internal memo sent to union members that was seen by Reuters, which said that ALPA was willing to “negotiate with the company if they wanted to provide us with a substantial proposal that would further our membership’s goals”.

In October 2014, Air Canada Pilots Association (ACPA) ratified a new labor agreement with Air Canada that runs until September 2024.

“I’m very pleased that Air Canada pilots have voted to support this new agreement, which will provide our members with stable and secure employment, improved career progression, fair compensation and the opportunity to gain a better share of our airline’s financial success,” said then-president of ACPA, Craig Blandford, in October 2014.

“It also provides Air Canada with a mechanism to gain labour stability with its pilots until September 2024 by achieving growth targets. If these targets are met, any disputes arising from negotiations in 2017, 2020 and 2023 will be resolved through a mediation/arbitration process,” read an announcement made by ACPA at the time.

According to the recent Reuters report, the pilot union had set May 29, 2023, as the deadline for beginning negotiations for a new labor agreement with the Canadian airline. The agreement will now run until September 29, 2023.

In a statement published on Twitter on May 30, 2023, WestJet Pilots said that it supported “AirCanadaPilots in their bargaining goals”.

WestJet’s pilots, also represented by ALPA, recently called off labor action following a tentative agreement with the airline after eight months of negotiations.

“We will continue to support and showcase our solidarity with our colleagues at WestJet. The Air Canada pilot group voted overwhelmingly in favour of joining the same union as WestJet (Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA)), further solidifying the idea that we are stronger together,” read a statement by Charlene Hudy, Air Canada pilots MEC chair, on May 16, 2023.

On May 17, 2023, ALPA merged with Air Canada Pilots Association (ACPA) following an agreement in principle in March 2023, and after Air Canada pilots approved the decision on May 1, 2023.

WestJet pilots have been represented by ALPA since May 2017.