Air Canada Pilots Approve Strike for Potential Start Next Month
Air Canada pilots have overwhelmingly voted to approve a strike mandate, which could lead to a walkout as early as Sept. 17.
The Air Line Pilots Association, representing over 5,400 pilots at the largest carrier in the country, reported a 98 percent approval rate on Thursday.
Negotiations between the employees and Air Canada have been ongoing since June 2023, with a federal conciliator overseeing the talks.
This process is expected to conclude this Monday, followed by a 21-day cooling-off period.
Charlene Hudy, the head of the union’s Air Canada branch, stated that the vote serves as a clear message to management that pilots are prepared to strike for a better contract.
Earlier this month, Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau informed analysts that both sides had reached agreement on several points and expressed hope for a deal in the upcoming weeks.