(Calgary) WestJet and Swoop pilots have ratified a new collective agreement after a bargaining process that saw the threat of a strike disrupt many Canadians’ long weekend vacation plans last month.
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) union said Friday that the four-year contract includes industry-leading wage increases, job security features and major improvements in hours and schedules. of the quality of life.
The association says 87% of pilots who voted backed the deal.
The airline and its pilots struck a last-minute deal earlier this year, narrowly averting a strike before the May long weekend.
However, WestJet and Swoop planes had already been grounded in anticipation of a possible work stoppage, although it was averted.
The pilots’ association had said negotiations were running into problems over wages, job security and hours, with pilots earning about half of what some of their American counterparts earn.
The new contract takes effect July 1, with a retroactive salary increase to January 1. It expires at the end of 2026.
“Having this agreement in place will go a long way to solving many of the airline’s labor issues and will bring more stability to our operations,” said Bernard Lewall, who leads ALPA’s WestJet contingent. , in a press release.
