Air Canada pilots look to start bargaining early after WestJet pay hike

The pilots union at the country's largest airline has opened the gate to bargaining ahead of time - as early as next month, amid peak travel season - adding pressure to an industry under scrutiny after a rocky year. The Air Canada pilots group said Tuesday it has invoked a clause to end its 10-year collective agreement a year early and launch negotiations over a new one. The move comes after about 1,800 pilots at WestJet and budget subsidiary Swoop settled on a tentative deal this month that secures a 24% wage increase over four years, as well as more flexible scheduling and a big boost to per diems. Since landing on an agreement in 2014, Air Canada pilots have received a 2% pay hike each year. The current deal will remain in force until Sept. 29, but its provisions will still apply after that date, both parties said. “The Air Canada pilots are looking forward to working with the company towards a contract that addresses career progression and job security issues for its pilots, and closes the growing wage gap between the U.S. and Canada,” said Air Line Pilots Association spokeswoman Camilla Castro in an email. “The current agreement, which has been in place for nearly a decade, is a testimony of the productive relationship we have with our pilots. We expect the upcoming negotiations to be conducted in this same spirit,” Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said in an emailed statement. The Air Canada pilots group, whose 4,500-odd members two weeks ago joined the Air Line Pilots Association, can kick off negotiations with a notice to bargain as early as June 1. The union expects to serve it to management early next month, said Castro. The merger with the Air Canada Pilots Association, which WestJet flight crews also belong to, means 95% of professional Canadian pilots are represented by a single union, according to Charlene Hudy, the Air Canada union's council chair. <br/>