The union representing WestJet pilots says it is asking for federal assistance after what it calls "months" of unproductive contract negotiations with the airline.
The WestJet Master Executive Council, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), says it has filed a request for conciliation assistance with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. As reported by Global News, federal Minister of Labour has 15 days to appoint a conciliation officer who will then work with the parties for 60 days to reach an agreement.
If both parties remain at an impasse after this 60-day period, a 21-day cooling-off period will begin before the parties can consider other alternatives, including a strike or lockout.
As previously reported by Open Jaw, ALPA Canada, who represents approximately 1,800 pilots at WestJet and its subsidiary Swoop, says it has been negotiating with the airline since SEP. According to Bernie Lewall, chair of the union’s WestJet Pilots Association, the union is concerned about equal pay for pilots flying not just the main airline WestJet, but also for budget Swoop as well as concerns over how pay structure will work with WestJet's proposed acquisition of Sunwing.
The pilots’ first union contract, which expired at the end of 2022, was the result of an arbitrated settlement reached in 2018, reports Global News.
The talks come as Canada’s pilot training, acquisition and retention levels are affecting the entire aviation industry.
