Air Canada pilots voted overwhelmingly for a strike mandate, putting them in a position to initiate a work stoppage as early as September 17.
The International Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents more than 5,400 aviators at the country’s largest carrier, said the strike authorization passed 98 percent on Thursday.
Employees have been negotiating with Air Canada since June 2023, and talks are ongoing under the supervision of a federal conciliator.
This process is expected to end on Monday, followed by a 21-day reflection period.
Charlene Hudy, head of the union’s Air Canada contingent, said the vote sends “a clear message to management” that pilots are prepared to take action to get a better deal.
Air Canada President and CEO Michael Rousseau told analysts earlier this month that the two sides were in agreement on several points and that he hoped to reach an agreement in the coming weeks.
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