Air Canada’s pilots are expected to wrap up voting on Thursday regarding a possible strike, which could take place as soon as Sept. 17. The pilots who are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association are looking to close the wage gap with airline pilots in the US.

The pilots have been in contract negotiations with the company since June 2023 and are currently in federal conciliation, which will end on Aug. 26, at which time a 21-day cooling-off period will begin. If a new contract is not reached between the two parties by the end of the cooling-off period, the pilots will be in a legal strike position.

“We want to reach an agreement with Air Canada to avert a strike. However, management continues to force us closer to a strike position by not listening to our needs at the negotiating table regarding fair compensation, respectable retirement benefits, and quality-of-life improvements,” said Charlene Hudy, chair of the Air Canada ALPA Master Executive Council.

“Air Canada pilots continue to fall behind our industry peers in total compensation who make significantly more for flying the same aircraft on the same routes,” she continued. “This disparity is unacceptable and needs to be addressed. Failing to improve our pilots’ wages and working conditions will negatively impact management’s ability to attract and retain pilots, which will negatively impact Air Canada’s future growth plans.”