Air Transat to gradually shut down operations over 3 days after union

Air Transat says it will gradually shut down operations over the next three days in response to a 72-hour strike mandate issued by the union representing its pilots.

In a statement issued shortly after the mandate was announced by the union on Sunday morning, the Montreal-based airline published a statement of its own, calling the strike notice “premature.”

Air Transat said there has been progress in contract negotiations and that it’s made “generous” contract offers. Both the union and the airline say they may come to an agreement before a strike which could begin as early as Wednesday at 3 a.m. ET.

“This notice requires the company to proactively implement an action plan and proceed with the gradual and orderly suspension of its operations over the next three days to prevent the consequences of a sudden, unplanned interruption,” the airline said in the statement.

The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) said the airline had left it “no choice” but to issue the strike mandate.

“Months of unproductive bargaining ends now. If we cannot reach an agreement, management will be responsible for every canceled flight and stranded passengers,” said Capt. Bradley Small, chair of the Air Transat Master Executive Council, which is represented by the ALPA.

Small said that “there is still time to avoid a strike” but that unless significant progress is made before Wednesday, “we will strike if that’s what it takes to achieve a modern contract.”

Negotiations between the ALPA and the airline began in January, three months before the collective agreement was set to expire.

At issue are industry-standard pay, benefits, work rules and job security to replace their current 2015 agreement.