Air Canada strike averted in tentative ALPA deal
September 17, 2024
Air Canada has reached what it terms a “tentative, four-year collective agreement” with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), averting a strike which had been provisionally set to start from as soon as 18 September.
If ratified, the tentative agreement will “generate an approximate additional $1.9 billion of value for Air Canada pilots over the course of the agreement,” explained ALPA, which represents more than 5,400 Air Canada pilots. The agreement now requires approval by the majority of ALPA’s Air Canada voting membership.
“After several consecutive weeks of intense round-the-clock negotiations, progress was made on several key issues including compensation, retirement, and work rules,” commented Charlene Hudy, chair of Air Canada Master Executive Council. “This agreement, if ratified by the pilot group, would officially put an end to our outdated and stale decade-old, ten-year framework”. Air Canada expects this ratification vote to occur within the next month, adding that “terms of the new agreement will remain confidential” until then.
Unconclusive negotiations between both sides have been ongoing for some time, with a discussions for a new contract commencing in June 2023. However, following the end of private mediation talks in June 2024 and a subsequent 60-day conciliation period passing without an agreement, Air Canada pilots could have begun a strike as soon as 18 September.
