MONTREAL — The Air Transat Master Executive Council (MEC) of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) provided the formal notice to bargain required by section 49 of the Canada Labour Code to Air Transat management last week.

The move formally opens contract negotiations with the employer in relation to the pilot group’s new collective agreement.

“We have a collective agreement that dates back to 2015. We will negotiate a contract that reflects the current standard within Canada’s aviation sector, similar to those recently negotiated by Air Canada and WestJet,” said Capt. Bradley Small, Air Transat MEC chair. “Our pilot group is united, and we want management to know that we are ready to fight for a contract that addresses the concerns of our pilots and brings stability to our airline.”

The Transat pilots say they have tasked their elected leadership and pilot negotiators with solving what they pinpoint as significant problems: employment protection, salary conditions, pilot group insurance, and retirement conditions.

“Our pilots are united and ready to stand for a contract that delivers for us and secures the future of our airline. The message to management is simple: We won’t back down; it’s a matter of respect,” Capt. Small added.