Jazz Aviation LP, the regional airline mostly contracted to Air Canada, avoided a potential strike at the last moment. On Tuesday night, it reached a tentative agreement with its flight dispatchers, keeping about 400 daily flights running. Those flights serve 20% of Air Canada’s daily travelers under the Air Canada Express brand.
The Canadian Airline Dispatchers Association (CALDA) had prepared for a strike on Aug. 1 after negotiations failed. The nearly 60 dispatchers said they were ready to walk off the job to push for better terms. The tentative deal now needs a vote by members, with CALDA expecting to open the seven-day ratification period on Saturday.
Mark Yezovich, president of CALDA, praised the negotiation team for keeping their focus on securing better terms for dispatchers. He also thanked union members for showing solidarity across Canada’s aviation industry. Yezovich said the support highlighted the unity of workers in the sector.
Meanwhile, a strike by 4,400 WestJet flight attendants is still a risk. If no contract is reached by Aug. 2, their walkout could disrupt 560 daily flights. For Jazz, however, the immediate crisis was averted, with an agreement now in place.