The Air Line Pilots Association, which represents more than 5,000 pilots at the country’s largest airline, said 98 per cent of votes authorized a strike if the union cannot reach a deal with Air Canada. Air Canada said the vote “does not mean that any disruption will take place” and that bargaining is ongoing despite six months of mediation that failed in June. (The Logic)

Talking point: The vote comes after last month’s WestJet strike that disrupted Canada Day weekend for over 100,000 travellers, and as Canada’s two largest railroads begin work stoppages today. The ALPA has been in talks with Air Canada since June 2023 and their previous agreement expired Sept. 29, 2023. The union said the sticking points are compensation, retirement benefits and “quality-of-life improvements,” while Air Canada says it wants to honour pilots without forgoing competitiveness and long-term growth.  A September strike would worsen an existing pilot shortage and potentially sow more discord with passengers, after the pandemic pushed the backlog of complaints against airlines to a new high last year.