There may be trouble ahead as WestJet Encore pilots have strongly voted for a strike mandate.
97 percent of the 89 percent of pilots who voted have backed a strike if no contract is in place by April 17, 2024. The 355 Encore pilots are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association Int'l (ALPA) and are separate from WestJet despite having the same parent company.
The pilots can go on strike 72 hours after the union leadership files a notice.
Capt. Carin Kenny, chair of the WestJet Encore ALPA Master Executive Council, states that the negotiation strategy has focused on sensible proposals to benefit both the WestJet Group and its pilots.
The results come after a 21-day cooling-off period, with concerns about pay, schedules, and career progression being at the heart of the issue.
Kenny emphasizes the importance of securing a contract that makes working at WestJet Group a desirable career once more.
Initially, progress was made in the seven months of negotiation, but talks have slowed. ALPA representatives highlight that WestJet Encore pilots are among the lowest-paid regional pilots in Canada and face challenges with stability and career advancement.
Kenny stresses the need for substantial improvement in the new contract to prevent pilots from seeking employment elsewhere, aiming for a standard contract comparable to other regional colleagues across Canada.
The union reassures that their negotiators remain dedicated to the bargaining process around the clock, but are ready to issue a 72-hour strike notice if negotiations fail.
WestJet Airlines president Diederik Pen views the strike authorization vote as a common step in labor negotiations.
Pen expresses a firm commitment to reaching an agreement with ALPA that addresses the unique concerns of Encore pilots and aligns with industry standards.
–With files from Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian Press.
