(Montreal) The starting salary of Air Canada pilots proposed in the tentative agreement between their union and the airline could constitute an obstacle to the ratification of the agreement, according to an expert.
Under their current contract, pilots earn significantly less in their first four years of service, but enjoy a significant pay increase starting in the fifth year.
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) has lobbied to have the “flat rate” provision removed entirely.
But according to a copy of the deal summary obtained by The Canadian Press, the proposed agreement announced Sunday would simply reduce the four-year period of lower salary to two years.
John Gradek, who teaches aviation management at McGill University, says up to 2,000 of Air Canada’s roughly 5,200 active pilots could earn entry-level pay, following a recent hiring surge.
Gradek said maintaining pay restrictions could provoke resistance from pilots and jeopardize the deal, which is scheduled to go to a vote next month. Air Canada and ALPA narrowly avoided a pilot strike Sunday by reaching an agreement.