Air Canada union seeks to close wage gap with US pilots

Air Canada pilots started bargaining talks in June amid a global pilot shortage that’s given aviators all over North America leverage to seek new contracts. Negotiations have already been held this year with airlines in both the United States and Canada, including Calgary-based WestJet Airlines. In May, Air Canada aviators officially joined the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the same union that represents WestJet pilots. Now, 95% of all professional Canadian pilots are represented by ALPA, which is also the world’s largest aviators union. Charlene Hudy, ALPA’s Air Canada chair, said members are looking for a comparable contract to those at competitors, including United Airlines and Delta. Pilots at Delta in March negotiated a 34% wage increase over the next four years. In contrast, their counterparts at Air Canada have received a 2% increase on average each year since 2014, lagging the rate of inflation. Story features transcribed interview with Hudy about negotiations, previous bargaining talks and what Air Canada pilots are hoping to achieve. <br/>