Air Transat and the pilots’ union have come to a tentative agreement. This agreement comes as a surprise right before a threatened strike that could have forced airlines to the ground. Air Transat released the news in a press release. In their joint statement, they stressed the need to achieve a peaceful resolution as violence and tensions further escalate.
The union pilots are prepared to walk out, with an overwhelming 99% in favor on Sunday ballot. Their almost unanimous support demonstrates how desperate and determined they are to act. This vote was meant to signal their willingness to go to the extreme if negotiations failed to move forward in a productive manner. Captain Bradley Small, chair of the Air Transat ALPA Master Executive Council (MEC), experienced a tidal surge of relief upon hearing of ratification of the tentative agreement. He stressed the importance of the pilots’ solidarity and resolve in forcing management to return to the bargaining table.
Unity and resolve ultimately forced Air Transat management to come to the bargaining table. As Captain Small rightly noted after a tough year of negotiations that produced them, this is an important step forward.
The tentative agreement will be taken to more than 750 pilots for ratification in the days ahead. This process is essential to ensure that all members are in agreement with the new terms before they are finalized. While details of the agreement have not been disclosed, it is seen as a positive step towards stabilizing operations within the airline.
Air Transat likewise released a statement expressing regret for the inconvenience stemming from the unpredictability of the negotiations. We understand that this time was very frustrating and confusing, and we deeply regret the inconvenience caused to customers whose travel was affected in the last few days,” the airline wrote. Their focus shined through on getting operations back, doing right by their customers and performance with every service restoration, doing the most they could under those conditions.
This announcement signals the second significant strike warning across Canadian airlines in 2023. Prior to that, Air Canada flight attendants struck for five days in early August, resulting in over a thousand flight cancellations before the government stepped in. Luckily, Air Transat’s flight attendants aren’t on strike today, which would have thrown a wrench in the operation while the two sides remain at the negotiating table.