#pilotstrike

WestJet Pilot Strike Over 1,000 WestJet pilots across Canada are readying themselves for picket lines as a union proclaims these workers have been overworked and underpaid, while the airline maintains that the pilots have been compensated fairly. This potential strike is making thousands of travellers uneasy as Canadian airlines have already had a year filled with delays and flight cancellations, WestJet included. Complaints to the Canadian Transportation Agency have seen a surge in numbers lately, with over 42,000 filed in the past year, almost 2,000 of which were registered in December alone, with numerous complaints about denied compensation for cancelled flights. The looming strike is raising the importance of improved passenger protection rules, as noted by Gabor Lukacs, the president of the non-profit Air Passenger Rights organization, who says that a labour dispute should be regarded as a situation within the airline’s control. This raises questions about the possible impact of the strike and whether passengers will receive compensation for cancellations and delays, and underscores the inadequacy of the passenger protection system in Canada. The union representing WestJet pilots, the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), said that its employees in Calgary, Vancouver, and Toronto are calling for a pay increase, noting the airline’s high turnover rate. According to the ALPA, WestJet has lost 30 pilots every month, and pilots will seek different employment every 18 hours. Capt. Bernard Lewall, WestJet ALPA master executive council chair, says that WestJet pilots are among the lowest-paid in North America, if not the world. WestJet, on the other hand, has declared that it acknowledges the importance of its pilots, and that the company wants to secure WestJet’s financial future while avoiding unnecessary disruption for Canadian travellers and communities. The airline also claims that its 737 pilots are among the top Canadian income earners in all professions, and that the proposed wages could impact the airline’s ability to provide affordable air travel for Canadians. WestJet pilots can strike as early as May 16, as the union reports that pilots are prepared to file a 72-hour strike notice on May 13 if negotiations continue to be stalled. While this may cause an inconvenience to passengers, the 1,800 pilots under the union have the constitutional right to strike if they feel it is necessary. Travellers may wonder if they will receive compensation if their flight is cancelled, but it is uncertain at this time. Read the full article

I can think of worse places to be stranded at.... #nyc #pilotstrike (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwzxTclD41i/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=6d1xdtuttaho