Air Transat Pilots File Notice to Bargain with Company
Pilots Are United and Ready to Negotiate a New Collective Agreement
MONTREAL, QUE.—Last week, the Air Transat Master Executive Council (MEC) of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) provided the formal notice to bargain required by section 49 of the Canada Labour Code to Air Transat management, formally opening contract negotiations with the employer in relation to the pilot group’s new collective agreement.
“We have a collective agreement that dates back to 2015. We will negotiate a contract that reflects the current standard within Canada’s aviation sector, similar to those recently negotiated by Air Canada and WestJet,” said Capt. Bradley Small, Air Transat MEC chair. “Our pilot group is united, and we want management to know that we are ready to fight for a contract that addresses the concerns of our pilots and brings stability to our airline.”
The Transat pilots have tasked their elected leadership and pilot negotiators with solving several significant problems: employment protection, salary conditions, pilot group insurance, and retirement conditions. These have fallen far behind other Canadian airlines, lacking career progression and improved quality-of-life provisions.
“Our pilots are united and ready to stand for a contract that delivers for us and secures the future of our airline. The message to management is simple: We won’t back down; it’s a matter of respect,” Capt. Small added.
Air Transat pilots fly over 2.5 million passengers annually to nearly 60 destinations in 30 countries.
Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 79,000 pilots at 42 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit ALPA.org or follow us on Twitter @ALPAPilots.
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CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703-481-4440 or Media@alpa.org
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