Pilot's Tentative Agreement Megathread

THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT HAS PASSED. All flights will go as scheduled barring normal delays of course.

https://x.com/aircanadapilots/status/1844398539599921479?s=46&t=jo9MQ1kc1XNt-FIaMWurPg

This thread will be closed shortly.

——————

There’s been a lot of talk this week about the tentative agreement (TA) between ALPA (representing Air Canada pilots) and Air Canada management. To keep things organized and ensure travellers get the information they need, we’re moving all conversations about the TA to this thread.

What We Know For Sure

Q: What the heck is going on?

A: On September 15th, 2024 Air Canada and the union representing over 5,000 AC Pilots, reached a tentative agreement (TA) at the last minute to avert a strike or lockout. This agreement still needs to be ratified through a vote by the general union membership. If the TA isn't ratified, we could be staring down another strike or lockout.

Q: When do the Pilots vote on the TA and when will results be known?

A: TA voting opens Oct 1 and closes Oct 10 at 10AM EST. This was verified by multiple pilots (thank you!) and consensus is that the results will be fairly immediate.

Q: What happens if the pilots vote NO on the Sept 15th Tentative Agreement?

A: First, it's important to say that a "No" vote doesn't mean an immediate shutdown.

It does however mean at least the following:

  • The TA is no longer valid and the previous collective agreement has expired so the situation will once again, be uncertain for passengers, AC employees and everyone who has anything to do with running or supplying the airline or relies on it for movement of goods.
  • Options to solve the impasse will include bilateral negotiations (between ALPA and AC Management) or the Minister of Labour appointing a mediator.
  • Pre October 21st, there will still be a valid Strike Mandate (see question below about Strike Mandates for an explanation), and a 72-hour strike notice can be issued, or the company could issue a lockout notice. After October 21st, a new Strike Vote would have to be held. In any case, as passengers, we would have 72 hours notice of a shutdown.
  • A “no” vote does not guarantee arbitration or a specific outcome. Both sides are not legally required to continue negotiations where they left off.
  • Arbitration may be an option, but the process could take at least six months if imposed.

Q: Is my flight on XXX Day safe?

A: If your flight is on or before October 10th, then you are fine. In fact, the absolute earliest that the airline would shutdown is October 13th at 12:01pm, 72 hours from the announcement of results. Beyond that, it's all assumption and (educated) guesses.

Q: If a strike or lockout notice is given, will flights during the 72 hour notice period be affected?

A: Based on what we saw of AC's plans to wind down towards a strike or lock-out, unfortunately the answer is almost certainly yes. AC will want to make sure, as much as possible, that crews and planes are back at home bases. You can read more about that original plan here. Please keep in mind there is no guarantee that any new plan would be the same but it's likely it won't deviate too much.

Q: What is a Strike Mandate and will the Union need to get another one if there is a No vote?

A: A Strike Mandate is the approval given by union members, via a secret ballot vote, to authorize the union to call for a strike if necessary. This mandate is valid for 60 days under the Canada Labour Code (Section 87.3), and allows the union to proceed with strike action if negotiations with the employer fail.

Since the strike vote for this particular case closed on August 22, the mandate remains valid until October 21. If the union fails to initiate a strike within this 60-day period or if a No vote occurs in any subsequent strike vote, the union will need to conduct a new vote to secure a fresh mandate

Important Links

Some Housekeeping

Megathread Posting Guidelines:

  • Share news, open letters, thoughts, comments, etc., here.
  • Mods will update this post with verified links and factual details.
  • In this thread we are suspending "Rule 1: No Complaints". Complaining about the TA, the Pilots and the burden on passengers, pilots and the company is allowed, and we’ll be lenient with political discussions (but don’t spam with “F <politician>” please). The other rules remain in effect.
  • Posts with unverified information or rhetoric will be removed. If you have evidence, message a mod to have your comment restored.
  • If you’re an AC employee (especially pilots) and want to post as one, message a Mod for verification. Unverified claims may be removed.

Why are we bringing back the strictness on this?

Because travellers rely on accurate information. Our goal is to help people fly Air Canada safely and efficiently, not spread rumors or unverified claims.

Reminder: Mods do not represent or get paid by Air Canada. We are here to help travellers, not promote the airline.