Air Transit, pilots union say ‘progress’ in talks as strike deadline approaches
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Air Transat says “progress has been made” in talks with the union representing its pilots, just a day after the Air Line Pilots Association International. 72-hour strike notice issued.
The two sides, which began talks toward a new collective agreement in January, have both said they are in around-the-clock negotiations with the pilots, who are set to walk off the job shortly after 3 a.m. ET on Wednesday.
“We are working tirelessly and still hope to reach an agreement during the day to minimize operational disruptions,” said Andrian Gagné, senior director of communications, public affairs and corporate responsibility at Air Transat, in an email to CBC News.
Gagné said the discussion will continue even today. “Our goal is to achieve a reasonable consensus, and it is up to the union to take a step towards us by considering the generous proposal we have put on the table.”
According to Air Transit, flights scheduled for December 8 will now operate as planned. The airline had earlier said it would begin a gradual shutdown of operations in anticipation of a strike.
The union representing Air Transat pilots has issued a 72-hour strike notice, meaning pilots could go on strike as early as Wednesday. In response, the airline says it will gradually cease operations over the next three days.
Air Transit and ALPA aim to replace the agreement that was negotiated in 2015 and expired at the end of April. According to the union, the current issues include wages, benefits, work rules and job security.
The airline said in a statement on Sunday that its latest offer included a 59 percent pay rise over five years along with “major improvements” to working conditions, and called the union’s demands “unfair.”
Captain Louis-Eric Mongrain, Vice President ALPA Canada told CBC News on Monday that the union is committed to achieving an agreement “before the strike deadline on Wednesday.”
“There’s still division, but it’s getting smaller every minute. So that’s a good thing,” Mongrain said.
He said that the union would not like to see both the parties getting embroiled in arbitration.
“Arbitration is never good because arbitration sets the rules,” Mongrain said. “We want to see deals that both sides at the table can negotiate. It’s better for everyone involved. It’s better for the public and it’s better for workers in Canada in general.”
