Air Transat pilots are poised for a possible strike over stalled contract negotiations.
Monday saw 524 of the airlines pilots at the Montreal-based company approve a strike mandate by a margin of 97 per cent in favour of such action if required.
They have been without a contract since the expiration of their previous collective agreement on April 30, 2015.
The vote puts the pilots in a legal position to strike as early as Feb. 29, but a representative said he hopes it won't be necessary.
"I don't see any reason to be worried right now," Capt. Patrice Roy, chairman of Air Transat's chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association, International, told CBC.
However, Roy said the union and Air Transat management remain far apart as they come to the end of a 60-day arbitration period.
Feb. 7 is the deadline for an agreement.
After that, a 21-day "cooling-off" period begins, after which both parties will gain the right to strike or lockout
"We're 100 percent ready to do everything the law allows to bring parity for our roles within the industry. A strike is never the ideal path to reaching agreement, but our pilots have demonstrated that they realize it may be necessary," Roy said in a statement.
He said the pilots agreed to salary freezes when the airline was facing financial troubles, and now want their fair share as the company does better.
"Now that the company is making money we're just looking to get back on track with industry standards," he said.
Strike can be avoided, airline says
Air Transat responded on a Tuesday with a statement saying a strike was "never necessary."
"We are disappointed that our pilots are now envisaging a strike, a tactic that is unwarranted," said Air Transat spokesman Michel Lemay.
"We are of the view that it can be avoided. We certainly wish to reach an agreement, as it was always the case in the past."
Lemay said to date the airline's operations are not affected by the situation.
Air Transat is part of Montreal-based Transat A.T., which operates an integrated travel business that includes flights and vacation packages in North America, Europe and other areas.
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