CANADA is reluctant to force Air Canada's pilots back to work if they go on strike, Reuters reports, even though ottawa took that step to end a work stoppage at the country's two railways last month.
That's because the two railways hold an effective duopoly. Air Canada controls about 44 per cent of domestic air travel seat capacity with the remainder divided among at least three other carriers.
Air Canada's 5,400 pilots, who want the airline to offer pay close to the wages earned by their US peers, said they would strike if necessary on September 18.
Their 10-year contract expired nearly a year ago, and no negotiations are scheduled, the pilots said. The Air Line Pilots Association, which represents the pilots, said it fears federal intervention as happened at the country's two main freight railways.
Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon, who ordered an end to the rail dispute, told union workers his hand had been forced by the extreme economic impact of the rail stoppages. 'We found ourselves in exceptional circumstances,' he said.
The two railways held an effective duopoly. Air Canada controls about 44 per cent of domestic air travel seat capacity with the remainder divided among at least three other carriers.
Air Canada pilots have demanded wages closer to counterparts at carriers like United Airlines, opens new tab and Delta although neither the Canadian airline nor its pilots have disclosed specific pay proposals.
United's pilot contract ratified in September 2023 raised pay about 42 per cent and is estimated to cost the Chicago-based airline more than $10 billion over four years.
Montreal-based Air Canada has slashed its full-year earnings estimates by 18 per centages will increase Air Canada's costs by C$70 million. Air Canada's pilots have said they received annual wage increases of about two per cent under their old contract after back-to-work legislation averted a stoppage in 2012.
A third-year first officer at United flying the A320 narrow-body airliner earns US$196 per hour, compared with $60 an hour at Air Canada.
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That's because the two railways hold an effective duopoly. Air Canada controls about 44 per cent of domestic air travel seat capacity with the remainder divided among at least three other carriers.
Air Canada's 5,400 pilots, who want the airline to offer pay close to the wages earned by their US peers, said they would strike if necessary on September 18.
Their 10-year contract expired nearly a year ago, and no negotiations are scheduled, the pilots said. The Air Line Pilots Association, which represents the pilots, said it fears federal intervention as happened at the country's two main freight railways.
Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon, who ordered an end to the rail dispute, told union workers his hand had been forced by the extreme economic impact of the rail stoppages. 'We found ourselves in exceptional circumstances,' he said.
The two railways held an effective duopoly. Air Canada controls about 44 per cent of domestic air travel seat capacity with the remainder divided among at least three other carriers.
Air Canada pilots have demanded wages closer to counterparts at carriers like United Airlines, opens new tab and Delta although neither the Canadian airline nor its pilots have disclosed specific pay proposals.
United's pilot contract ratified in September 2023 raised pay about 42 per cent and is estimated to cost the Chicago-based airline more than $10 billion over four years.
Montreal-based Air Canada has slashed its full-year earnings estimates by 18 per centages will increase Air Canada's costs by C$70 million. Air Canada's pilots have said they received annual wage increases of about two per cent under their old contract after back-to-work legislation averted a stoppage in 2012.
A third-year first officer at United flying the A320 narrow-body airliner earns US$196 per hour, compared with $60 an hour at Air Canada.
SeaNews Turkey
