Formally Opens Contract Negotiations With Management

The Air Transat Master Executive Council (MEC) of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) provided its formal notice to bargain required by section 49 of the Canada Labour Code to the management of Air Transat, marking the formal opening of contract negotiations with the company for the pilot group’s new collective agreement.

The pilots have tasked their leadership and pilot negotiators with solving significant problems such as employment protection, salary conditions, pilot group insurance, and retirement conditions. These issues are currently far behind other Canadian airlines, and lacking in career progression and quality-of-life provisions.

Capt. Bradley Small, Air Transat MEC chair said, “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. 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.”

Capt. Small added, “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.”

Air Transat pilots fly more than 2.5 million passengers per year to nearly 60 destinations in 30 countries.

FMI:  www.airtransat.com/