ALPA Canada, the union representing 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 talks are “getting very close…to being at an impasse.”
One issue for the union is a desire to see all pilots that fly WestJet planes receive “equal pay for equal work.” Currently, pilots who fly for Swoop get paid less than those who fly for mainline WestJet. With the proposed acquisition of Sunwing, the union is concerned about the creation of another class of pilots with a different pay scale. At this time, Lewall says he “can’t say” about a potential strike.
The talks come as Canada’s pilot training, acquisition and retention are at crisis levels for the entire aviation industry.
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