Monsurat
WestJet pilots on Monday issued a 72-hours strike notice to the company and the government. The notice was given by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) at 8.pm.
In response, the Group issued a lockout notice to the pilots. The ALPA, which represents 1,600 flight crew and Swoop Pilots at WestJet said in the release that notice could have been given over the weekend, but was delayed to allow negotiations to continue.
The ALPA says the “lawful job action” could occur at 3 a.m. on Friday, May 19. The issues revolving around the strike includes pay, job security and scheduling.
“After nine months of negotiating, management still fails to understand today’s labor market conditions, leading to a mass exodus of our pilots in search of better work opportunities and more will follow if this agreement does not meet our pilots’ needs” said Capt. Bernard Lewall ,chair of the WestJet ALPA Master Executive Council.
WestJet Group CEO, Alexis von Hoensbroech said “we sincerely regret the inconvenience and uncertainty this continues to cause for our guests. It is our responsibility to ensure the safety and complete control of our network at all times, to minimize the risk of stranding our guests, our crews and our aircraft.”
“As the union maintains unreasonable expectations we see no alternative than to lock them out as of Friday”, said Von Hoensbroech on Twitter.
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