A strike by over 5,200 Air Canada pilots is looming and passengers are increasingly worried about the consequences.
Nancy Duarte-Nesrallah is an Air Canada passenger who is travelling several times this month. She says her delayed vacation could be in jeopardy.
“I’m a little worried that the strike could definitely affect our travel plans,” Duarte-Nesrallah said.
On Monday morning, Air Canada released a statement announcing the possibility of a strike in less than a week.
“Talks are ongoing between the company and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents more than 5,200 pilots at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge, but the parties remain far apart. If no agreement is reached, either party may order a 72-hour strike or lockout beginning September 15, 2024, which would trigger the airline's three-day wind-down plan.”
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John Gradek of McGill University says the statement from Canada's largest airline leads him to believe the likelihood of a strike is increasing.
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“Given what Air Canada said and what was in the press release, I would say the probability of a strike is about 60/40,” Gradek said.
The pilots are trying to close the gap with their American colleagues, some of whom have just signed new contracts that guarantee them an additional income of over 40 percent.
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Another Air Canada passenger, Michelle Jarvis, says she understands the pilots' motives but is concerned about possible industrial action.
“I understand why this strike could happen. I understand that the pilots earn much less than their counterparts in the United States. I'm just sorry that a strike has to happen,” Jarvis said.
According to Duarte-Nesrallah, one of the concerns is that many travelers cannot take spontaneous time off from work.
“If you want to take time off from work, you have to request leave in advance and so on. But I'm confident that it's a pretty good airline and that in the future they will reimburse us or enable us to fly.”
A statement from the Air Line Pilots Association said it was Air Canada that had to prevent the strike, not the union.
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“Air Canada has the power to avert a strike and the significant disruption to air travel that it would cause, but first the company must get serious about the bargaining table and recognize the value our pilots bring to the airline,” said First Officer Charlene Hudy, Chair of the Air Canada ALPA Master Executive Council (MEC).
Air Canada announces that in the event of a strike, the airline will gradually suspend its flights over three days. Air Canada Express will continue to operate even when the strike begins, as the airline is operated by a third-party company.
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