a clear message to Canada's largest airline Air Canada pilot sent an overwhelming message that they are resolved and unified 98% of Pilots represented by the airline pilots Association the Alpa Union participated in a vote which was overwhelmingly in favor of a strike the main sticking points that we find in these negotiations right now are we're looking at Fair compensation we need respectable retirement benefits and we have quality of life concerns the two sides have been in talks for more than a year Monday is the start of the 21-day cooling off period despite its name industry experts say it will be turbulent is really when the most intense part of the negotiations take place for those compromises to happen Air Canada says it's committed to the bargaining process and working towards a fair and Equitable Collective Agreement industry observers say Alpa has a strong position its negotiations for Pilots South of the Border netted them pay increases of 20 to upwards of 40% unlike the situation at Canada's two major Railways which resulted in work stomp Air Canada has less leverage for the airline to shut down and and not have Pilots is not an option advice for air Travelers worried about disruption monitor developments and they should also be rest assured that pilot strikes which shut down an entire network are very very rare in Canada the last last time we've had one was about a decade ago still wary passengers may recall the disruption caused by westjet's mechanic strike this summer which caused chaos over the Canada dayong weekend an gaviola Global News Toronto