The Air Line Pilots Association, which represents 1,600 WestJet pilots, has announced that they have voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike mandate. This move could potentially disrupt the summer travel season for thousands of Canadians.

The strike could take place during the week leading up to the May long weekend, which is typically a busy period for travel. The union’s WestJet representative, Bernard Lewall, has cited job protection, pay, and scheduling issues as the primary concerns of the pilots at WestJet and its subsidiary, Swoop. According to Lewall, 95% of pilots cast their vote, with 93% in favor of the strike mandate.

In response, WestJet has claimed that the threat of a strike is a standard negotiation tactic. The airline and the union will continue their discussions through the federal conciliation process, which is set to conclude on April 24. Following this, there will be a three-week break unless both parties agree to extend the negotiations. As this issue remains unresolved, it is uncertain how it will affect the summer travel plans of Canadians, particularly those who rely on WestJet and Swoop for air travel.

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