Right as we head knee deep into the holidays, triggering a very busy travel season, 750 Air Transat pilots could soon walk off the job.
In a statement, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) says they issued a 72-hour strike notice Sunday, after nearly a year of negotiations and a strike vote on December 2.
It means as early as Wednesday, Air Transat pilots could walk off the job.
The airline mainly travels to destinations such as the Caribbean and Europe.
ALPA, the world’s largest pilot union with 80,000 members in Canada and in the United States says key sticking points are pay, benefits and job security.
“There is still time to avoid a strike but unless significant progress is made at the bargaining table, we will strike if that’s what it takes to achieve a modern contract,” says Capt. Bradley Small, Chair of the Air Transat Master Executive Council.
Small says that no pilot wants to strike but the airline has left them no choice.
“Months of unproductive bargaining ends now. If we cannot reach an agreement, management will be responsible for every cancelled flight and stranded passenger,” adds Small.
Air Transat says negotiations are ongoing and their goal is to reach an agreement to maintain flights and minimize disruptions.
The airline will start cancelling flights on Monday.
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