Air Transat has reported that negotiations with the union representing its pilots have made progress, although there is still a disagreement regarding wage increases. The airline announced on Sunday that its latest offer to the Air Line Pilots Association, Intl. includes a 59% wage hike over a five-year period along with significant enhancements to working conditions.
The union, through Capt. Tim Perry, the president of ALPA Canada, has disputed the 59% figure as being inaccurate. Perry mentioned in an interview with CBC News that they would have accepted a 59% offer from the company if it had been presented. However, he deemed the company’s claim irresponsible due to the discrepancy.
Dave Bourdages, the vice-president of flight operations at Air Transat, defended the 59% average wage increase, acknowledging that individual pilots may fall slightly below or above this mark based on their position in the pay scale and previous experience. The airline stands by this percentage, clarifying it as an average increase over the five-year period.
Both the airline and the union were contacted by CBC to address the discrepancy in the wage hike estimate. According to Andréan Gagné, the senior director of communications at Air Transat, the offer aims to raise total compensation by an average of 59% for each pay scale over the specified five years.
Negotiations for a new collective agreement between the two parties, which commenced in January, are ongoing. The pilots are prepared to strike as early as 3 a.m. ET on Wednesday, with ALPA issuing a 72-hour notice on Sunday. Both sides have expressed their commitment to reaching an agreement to avoid operational disruptions.
Despite the looming strike deadline, flights scheduled for December 8 will proceed as planned for now, as stated by Air Transat. The airline warned that if an agreement is not reached by the following day, operations will gradually wind down. The negotiations involve various factors such as wages, benefits, work rules, and job security, as highlighted by ALPA.
Capt. Louis-Éric Mongrain, a vice-president at ALPA Canada, emphasized the union’s dedication to securing an agreement before the strike deadline. Mongrain expressed optimism about bridging the gap between the two sides, emphasizing the importance of avoiding arbitration in favor of mutually negotiated deals for the benefit of all parties involved.