Air Canada pilots will soon vote on a tentative four-year agreement reached over the weekend, avoiding a work stoppage after several weeks of brinksmanship tactics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Terms of the tentative deal were not released, but the Air Line Pilots Association Int\u2019l (ALPA), which represents pilots at Air Canada and its Rouge subsidiary, said it would generate about $1.9 billion in additional value. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhile it has been an exceptionally long road to this agreement, the consistent engagement and unified determination of our pilots have been the catalyst for achieving this contract,\u201d said First Officer Charlene Hudy, chair of the Air Canada ALPA Master Executive Council (MEC). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAfter several consecutive weeks of intense round-the-clock negotiations, progress was made on several key issues including compensation, retirement, and work rules.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights will continue as normal while union members prepare for a vote, the airline said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The deal must be ratified by a majority of voting members, who will \u201csoon receive the tentative agreement for review,\u201d ALPA said in a release. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The union did not provide a timeline for the vote, but Air Canada said<\/a> it expects this will be completed \u201cover the next month.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Air Canada\u2019s board of directors must also approve the agreement before it goes into effect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The pilots have been seeking a massive increase to wages and benefits, to bring their compensation in line with colleagues at major airlines in the United States. <\/p>\n\n\n\n