Air Canada narrowly averted a pilots' strike Saturday. The airline and the Air Line Pilots Association announced a tentative deal for wage increases of about 42 percent over four years and that prevented the issuance of strike notice on Sunday. The deal seems to be in line with union demands although there have been rumblings of discontent among some pilots. Air Canada pilot group forums representing senior pilots have been conducting straw polls and while they're far from scientific they do seem to be overwhelmingly against acceptance of the offer.
Given the rampant inflation of the last four years in addition to the continued future inflation all of it compounding upon itself, there is no way I would accept anything less than double the current compensation package. Inflation is not coming down. It may be slowing down, but, it is definitely not coming down. Any cut in the current fed rate will spur on inflation. We already know the numbers we are seeing are baked. You can only hold the lid on so long until it breaks out. Pilots should not accept the current offer until the companies get serious. They know what’s going on from an inflation perspective. They’re just playing the game. Don’t fall for it.
Ten percent per year isn’t too bad. Inflation won’t come down if contracts are settled with huge increases. If you think you are going to get parity with United/Delta, you are dreaming. The hiring spree is coming to an end and the pilot pool is growing. The party is over and the brothers and sisters should be happy with what they have been offered.
As background, this group took a 30% cut (plus a weeks lost vacation) back in 2003 during CCAA. The execs didn’t… They then kept pace with inflation (still short the 30%) till 2014. Then the government (CIRB) imposed a ten year 2%/year contract - which ran through 2-3 years of 7%+ inflation. The offer barely makes up for that contract in reality.
The dissatisfaction Russ mentions is very real in part due to the money, but exacerbated by numerous quality of life issues one might refer to generally as scheduling & benefits.
Your comment reflects how many in the Canadian public see things - they don’t want to see tickets go up, but didn’t complain for twenty years while pilots fell behind. On a NB aircraft pilot wages represent something like 6 of 200 seats; even less on a WB.
In Canada pilot wages don’t drive ticket prices (on a per flight basis, often the FA group exceeds the pilots’) it’s the wide variety of fees and taxes imposed by government unlike the US & EU.