By Skies Magazine | April 2, 2024 Estimated reading time 4 minutes, 6 seconds.
WestJet Encore pilots have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike if they can’t negotiate a new collective agreement by mid-April, citing low wages that may worsen an existing talent shortage.
Pilots from the regional airline voted 97 per cent in favour of a strike if they can’t reach a new agreement by April 17, 2024, according to the Air Line Pilots Association Int’l (ALPA).
“Our industry and our company reputation are built on trust and stability,” said Capt Carin Kenny, chair of the WestJet Encore ALPA Master Executive Council, in a release.
“That’s why our tactic at the negotiating table has been to make common-sense proposals that will provide a path forward for the WestJet Group and its pilots.”
Only 89 per cent of pilots participated in the strike-authorization vote, which comes one week into a 21-day cooling off period, ALPA said.
The union claims talks have stalled after seven months of negotiations, and said they are prepared to file a 72-hour strike notice on April 14, which may put them in a legal strike position on April 17.
WestJet Encore pilots are “some of the lowest-paid regional pilots in Canada,” ALPA said.
“Without drastic improvement on our next contract, there will be little stopping WestJet Encore pilots from continuing to seek better employment opportunities elsewhere,” added Kennedy.
“That’s why we are looking for an industry-standard contract comparable to some of our regional colleagues across Canada. 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.”
ALPA said it remains committed to the bargaining process and is making its negotiators available round-the-clock for the rest of the 21-day cooling-off period.
In a separate statement, Diederik Pen, president of WestJet Airlines and group chief operating officer, said a strike authorization vote is a “common step by unions in context of the overall labour negotiation process.”
“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,” said Pen.
WestJet Encore operates a fleet of de Havilland Dash 8-400 (Q400) double-aisle turboprop aircraft on flights to smaller cities in the WestJet network.
