Air Canada reaches last-minute agreement with pilots union, averting strike

Air Canada and its pilots union have reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year collective agreement, avoiding a strike or lockout. The terms of the agreement remain confidential until a ratification vote by the union members is completed. The negotiations have been ongoing for 15 months, with pilots seeking wage rates to narrow the pay gap with U.S. carriers. The Canadian government did not intervene in the dispute, unlike a previous rail strike. Air Canada had offered a wage increase of over 30%, but the union felt it was inadequate compared to their U.S. counterparts. United pilots, for example, received pay increases of about 42% in their new contract.