Air Canada and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) have reached a last-minute tentative agreement in their labour dispute, avoiding a potential strike that could have impacted thousands of passengers. The new four-year deal includes pay raises, improved work rules, and retirement benefits for the more than 5,200 pilots represented by the union. If ratified, the agreement is expected to generate an additional $1.9 billion in value for Air Canada pilots over the next four years. The negotiations had been ongoing for over a year, with the two sides initially far apart on the issue of pay.
In a statement on Sunday, Air Canada announced that the tentative agreement will be put to a ratification vote by the pilots over the next month. Until then, flights will continue to operate as normal. The agreement is being hailed as a recognition of the contributions and professionalism of Air Canada’s pilots, while also providing a framework for the airline’s future growth. The union expressed satisfaction with the deal, noting that it marks an end to an outdated ten-year framework that had been in place for over a decade.
Prior to the deadline to issue a strike notice, Air Canada had begun preparing for potential disruptions by limiting certain cargo shipments and adjusting some flight schedules. The airline assured customers that those who had changed flights due to the labour dispute could switch back to their original booking at no additional cost, as long as there was space available. Despite the looming threat of a strike, Air Canada had urged the federal government not to intervene in the negotiations, while the union emphasized the importance of upholding the constitutional rights and freedoms of Canadians during the collective bargaining process.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also made it clear that the responsibility for reaching a deal lay with Air Canada and the pilots’ union, rather than with the federal government. The tentative agreement ultimately averted major disruptions to the operations of Air Canada, which operates an average of 670 daily flights carrying over 110,000 passengers. Both parties are now looking towards the ratification process for the new agreement, which marks a significant milestone in the lengthy negotiations between the airline and its pilots’ union.
