Air Canada union head threatens to resign if pilots reject deal

The head of the Air Canada pilots union said she’s ready to resign if members don’t approve the tentative deal reached last weekend with the airline, which offers significant salary gains.

According to The Canadian Press, Charlene Hudy, chair of the Air Canada contingent of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), said Friday during a virtual townhall that she “will have no choice but to resign” if the would-be contract is rejected.

“If the membership votes no to this [tentative agreement], it would clearly indicate to the public, media, government and company that I no longer speak on your behalf,” she said during a question-and-answer session following the online gathering with fellow employees.

The Canadian Press also reported it obtained a copy of Hudy’s statement and confirmed it with two pilots.

“If I stayed, it would be to your detriment,” she said.

Air Canada reached the tentative four-year collective agreement with ALPA last weekend (Sept. 15) after more than a year of negotiations, averting a strike that would have led to some 670 flight cancellations and affected 110,000 passengers daily.

It would reportedly generate an approximate additional $1.9 billion in value for more than 5,200 pilots at the airline and would provide them with cumulative raises of almost 42 per cent over four years.

The other terms of the tentative deal are expected to be completed over the next month and will require approval by the Air Canada Board of Directors.

Ratification requires approval by a majority of the voting membership. If the pilots reject the agreement, the negotiating process would restart.

The agreement has faced scrutiny from some pilots, particularly more recent recruits because of the ongoing pay gap between newer and more experienced employees.

The ALPA had been pushing to narrow the pay gap with pilots at other Canadian and U.S. airlines, as well as change schedules so that pilots could make more and spend more time at home.

Air Canada previously offered a contract with raises of 30 per cent and improved work-life balance, and called the union’s pay demands “unrealistic.”

The tentative agreement replaces one reached 10 years ago that provided raises of two per cent annually.

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