Flight dispatchers for Air Transatvoted in favour of a strike mandate, after they failed to reach a new collective agreement.
There are 28 of these employees who work for Air Transat in Montreal, and they are represented by the Canadian Airline Dispatchers Association (CALDA).
According to a press release on Tuesday, the vote was delivered to Air Transat on April 15 after talks to negotiate failed and ended on April 2.
“We have been very patient in trying to negotiate a new collective agreement with Air Transat,” said CALDA national president Rob King. “Our flight dispatchers are highly trained professionals who deserve a contract that reflects their position of responsibility, accountability and liability as it pertains to their work.”
There was a mandatory 21 day cooling off period, which ended on April 23, the press release notes.
Flights dispatchers are licensed by Transport Canada and prepare the flight plan, load the fuel, monitor aircraft systems and weather and deal with in-flight emergencies.
“No Air Transat aircraft can depart without the approval of the Flight Plan by the Flight Dispatcher,” reads the press release.