The tentative agreement recently negotiated between Air Canada and its pilots may not result in an official agreement because of the salaries offered to new pilots, reports The Canadian Press.
Currently, Air Canada pilots earn much less during their first four years of service, despite a significant salary increase starting in the fifth year. This is precisely the aspect that is causing discontent among some pilots.
According to The Canadian Press, the agreement proposed Sunday would reduce that period from four years to two years. However, that change may not be enough to satisfy junior drivers, who say salaries in years three and four would remain “significantly lower” than those in year five.
In fact, the hourly rate increases by up to 39% in the fifth year, a much larger increase than during any other period, notes the media.
Currently, new recruits earn between $55,000 and $77,000 a year working about 75 hours a month. Under the proposed deal, that range would increase to $75,700-$134,000, compared to nearly $187,000 in year five and more than $367,000 for an experienced captain.
Experts say as many as 2,000 of Air Canada’s roughly 5,200 active pilots could earn entry-level pay, following a recent hiring surge.
“Many of these new pilots arrive after long careers at other airlines,” the article notes.
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New wave of uncertainty coming?
Dissatisfied Air Canada pilots, who spoke to Open Jaw on condition of anonymity, said the vote could take place “around October 1.” That could create a new wave of uncertainty for Canadians and their Air Canada travel plans.
