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Pilots at Air Canada say wage renegotiation talks between their union and the carrier have broken down.The union said the two sides must now head to mediation, and potentially arbitration, to settle a pre-arranged reopening of the contract.
The Air Canada Pilots Association said Friday that the company refused to offer any wage increases or pension changes.
"We are disappointed with the lack of progress during the talks," said Capt. Serge Beaulieu, spokesman for the Air Canada Pilots Association.
"We presented a very sound case for increasing the wages of pilots that would not compromise the company's competitiveness, particularly in the domestic market," Beaulieu said in a release.
ACPA is the largest professional pilot group in Canada, representing 3,100 pilots who fly Air Canada's mainline fleet. The union and the airline began their negotiations earlier this week.
The wage reopener is part of the concessions package negotiated with unions during the airline's time in bankruptcy restructuring between 2003 and 2004.
The airline is already going to arbitration in July over wage renegotiations with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union, which represents about 10,000 station attendants, ground handlers, mechanics, maintenance technicians, finance workers and logistics and supply personnel.
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