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Air Transat warns of shutdown as pilots' union issues 72-hour strike notice
Air Transat said it will gradually cease operations starting Monday after its pilots issued a 72-hour strike notice this weekend, raising the prospect of a walkout on Wednesday morning.
In a statement on Sunday, the Montreal-based airline said the notice from the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) after mediation talks ended Saturday forces it to begin a “gradual and orderly suspension” of flights over the next two days. That involves planning to cancel flights and returning passengers, crew and aircraft to Canada to prevent them from being stranded in the event of a strike.
Air Transat said travellers scheduled to fly within the next five days can change or postpone their bookings for free.
The airline said it regrets disruptions during the busy holiday travel season, but laid the blame on the union, whose expectations they deem to be “unreasonable.”
“This strike notice is premature given the progress made at the bargaining table and the generous offers made by Air Transat,” said Julie Lamontagne, the carrier’s chief human resources, corporate responsibility and communications officer.
She said the company put forward “several compromises and improvements,” including a proposal to raise their wages by 59 per cent over five years. ALPA, she said, has “shown no openness.”
“It is regrettable that the union has expressed such indifference toward Transat, its employees and clients by choosing the path of a strike at this time of year — a reckless decision that does not reflect the state of negotiations,” she stated.
The company also highlighted how a job action would impact its 4,300 other employees at this time of year.
ALPA Air Transat master executive council chair Capt. Bradley Small said in a statement that the pilots don’t want to strike, but airline management is leaving them little choice.
“Months of unproductive bargaining ends now,” Small stated. “If we cannot reach an agreement, management will be responsible for every cancelled flight and stranded passenger.”
The pilots have been working under a contract signed in 2015. Earlier this week, Small told National Post that they’re seeking a new agreement akin to the one signed by Air Canada and WestJet pilots in recent years.
Such a deal, he said, would address working conditions around scheduling, improved benefits, increased pay, job security and better retirement protection.
Negotiations to replace the decade-old agreement began in January. They continued past the April expiration date through the summer, with Small previously alleging the company was only present about one-fifth of the time, prompting ALPA to ask Ottawa to provide conciliators.
After roughly two months of talks proved fruitless, a 21-day cooling-off period was initiated and conciliation turned to mediation. On Dec. 2, 99 per cent of the airline’s 750 pilots voted in favour of a strike.
“There is still time to avoid a strike, but unless significant progress is made at the bargaining table, we will strike if that’s what it takes to achieve a modern contract.”
Air Transat, meanwhile, said it’s committed to reaching a deal to minimize disruptions and avoid a complete shutdown. Passengers potentially impacted can learn more on the company’s website .
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