A pilots' picket took place at the Toronto airport

On Friday, pilots of the largest Canadian airline Air Canada held a demonstration at Toronto Pearson Airport. Thus they demand higher wages and better working conditions. The union is negotiating with the company's management, but so far to no avail.

Comparison with the U.S.

The background information for the Toronto pilots' strike is the success of their American counterparts at United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, who between March and September secured ratification of new agreements on flight schedules and pay. They stipulate a four-year plan for pay increases ranging from 34% to 40%. By comparison, Air Canada's expiring contract sets an annual wage increase of 2% — considering the inflation level twice as high.

Protest plan

The WestJet union, which represents Canadian pilots, says demand for international flights has soared since the pandemic, but it has not affected the welfare of workers in the industry. Now pilots are forced to work more and still receive the same amount of money as in the pandemic years. It is emphasized that no strike is planned yet. This means that the protest will not affect the lives of ordinary travelers.

In late May, the union invoked the termination clause of the 10-year collective bargaining agreement a year early. Two weeks later, it sent management a notice of bargaining, the first step toward a new deal.

Air Canada said it will continue to engage in productive negotiations with the union, and until then, the provisions of the deal will remain in place.

Union spokeswoman Charlene Hudy expressed the general opinion that the agreement is outdated and Canadian pilots are leaving for the United States for better conditions:

"There was a point in time back in 2013 when we were pretty comparable — almost even — with our fellow counterparts at United. But starting next year, United Airlines pilots will earn 92 per cent more."

In total, Air Canada now has about 4,500 pilots on its payroll.