Estimated reading time 1 minute, 31 seconds.
Unifor Local 7378 representing Sunwing Airlines pilots have given a 96 per cent strike mandate to its negotiating team.
“The vote sends a strong message to Sunwing management who attempted to conducted parallel meetings to try to convince the pilots not to support their Bargaining Committee,” said Unifor’s national transportation director, Joel Fournier.
The Sunwing pilot collective agreement expired in November of 2015 and the union has already gone through the conciliation process mandated under the Canada Labour Code. The mediation and cooling-off period ends on May 30. This timeframe is the required legal period and the earliest date that a 72-hour strike notice can be given.
“It’s our hope that Sunwing will recognize the clear mandate that our members have given us and that management will return to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair collective agreement,” said Matt Rogers, Local 7378 president.
Sunwing Airlines Inc. has 380 pilots who operate in seven bases across Canada–Quebec City, Montreal, Toronto, Halifax, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton.
Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing more than 310,000 workers. It was formed Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union merged.
