Turbulent skies may very well be forward after WestJet Encore pilots voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike mandate on Tuesday.
Of the 89 per cent of pilots who took half within the vote, 97 per cent voted in favour of strike motion if a contract isn’t negotiated by April 17, 2024. The 355 Encore pilots are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association Int’l (ALPA) and whereas they’ve the identical father or mother firm as WestJet, Encore is a separate entity.
The pilots can stroll off the tarmac 72 hours after union management information a strike discover.
“Our industry and our company reputation are built on trust and stability,” Capt. Carin Kenny, chair of the WestJet Encore ALPA Master Executive Council, mentioned in a launch. “That’s why our tactic at the negotiating table has been to make commonsense proposals that will provide a path forward for the WestJet Group and its pilots.”
The outcomes come only one week right into a mandated 21-day cooling-off interval that resulted from federal reconciliation makes an attempt final week. At situation are considerations about pay, schedules and profession development.
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“We are here to fight for a contract that will once again make working within the WestJet Group a career goal. Unfortunately, despite management’s platitudes, our proposals continue to fall on deaf ears,” Kenny mentioned.
Kenny admits that progress was made within the preliminary phases of the seven months of negotiation, however these talks have come to a “near standstill.” ALPA representatives say that WestJet Encore pilots are a number of the lowest-paid regional pilots in Canada and that they lack stability and profession development alternatives.
“Without drastic improvement on our next contract, there will be little stopping WestJet Encore pilots from continuing to seek better employment opportunities elsewhere,” Kenny said. “That’s why we are looking for an industry-standard contract comparable to some of our regional colleagues across Canada.”
While flight disruptions are by no means a great consequence for passengers, the union says their negotiators are nonetheless dedicated to the bargaining course of 24/7 – however they’re ready to file a 72-hour strike discover on April 14 if contract negotiations fail. That means the group could be in a authorized strike place on April 17.
WestJet Airlines president Diederik Pen mentioned a strike authorization vote marks a standard step by unions within the context of labour negotiations.
“We are steadfast in our commitment to reach an agreement with ALPA that addresses the unique concerns of our Encore pilots, is competitive within Canada’s airline industry and ensures we have a long-term sustainable future so that we can continue to operate critical air service for millions of Canadians while providing meaningful employment for thousands at the WestJet Group,” Pen mentioned in an announcement.
–With information from Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press.
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WestJet Encore pilots vote overwhelmingly in favour of strike action
