WestJet Encore pilots endorsed a strike mandate Tuesday, heightening the likelihood of headwinds for the airline’s owner after a rough year.
WestJet’s regional carrier’s pilots voted 97 percent for strike authorization after contract talks over wages, timetables and career progression reached a “near standstill,” the Air Line Pilots Association said. 89 percent of pilots voted.
“What that signals to me is that our pilots are frustrated,” said WestJet Encore union president Carin Kenny.
It represents 355 pilots who can leave 72 hours later. Federal conciliation between the two sides ended last week, starting a 21-day cooling-off period for work action or lockout.
Kenny said WestJet Encore pays the lowest regional pilots in Canada, therefore some leave.
Encore needs pilots for its 35 De Havilland Dash 8-400 turboprop planes, making its move to WestJet’s higher-wage mainline operation a unique success, she says.
“Right now, there’s nobody coming in, particularly into the captain ranks,” he remarked. “We’re not replacing them, and the captains are generally the ones who have the seniority to move over to WestJet.” “It’s sort of a revolving door of trying to fix that.”
She qualified for Encore’s pilot training. “But the problem is that they’re not staying.” They gain experience and then move to Porter, Jazz, Air Canada, or Flair. Some travel abroad.”
WestJet Airlines president Diederik Pen said unions often want strike authorization during contract discussions.
“We are steadfast in our commitment to reach an agreement with ALPA that addresses the unique concerns of our Encore pilots, is competitive within Canada’s airline industry, and ensures we have a long-term sustainable future so that we can continue to operate critical air service for millions of Canadians while providing meaningful employment for thousands at the WestJet Group,” Pen said in a post.
Last year, difficult negotiations with a different group of pilots prompted the airline to cancel more than 230 flights in anticipation of job action, but they reached a settlement hours before the walkout deadline.
WestJet and Swoop pilots received a 24% salary increase over four years under the collective agreement.
Last June, WestJet announced it will close Swoop, a five-year-old budget airline, and merge its operations.
The potential labour disruption comes as Canada’s second-largest carrier faces indefinite delays on dozens of new aircraft deliveries after a panel blowout on a Boeing 737 Max plane in January delayed Max 10 certification as regulators scrutinise Boeing.
