The union representing pilots at Jazz Aviation claims that their employer and Air Canada have breached the Canada Labour Code, even as it ratified changes to their collective agreement.

On Monday, the Air Line Pilots Association filed a complaint with the Canada Industrial Relations Board arguing that both airlines violated the exclusivity deal between the two and effectively narrowed the pipeline of pilots from one carrier to the other.

Jazz, a subsidiary of Chorus Aviation Inc., provides regional service for the countryB次元官网网址檚 biggest airline under the Air Canada Express brand.

In May, Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau announced a B次元官网网址渂ridging arrangementB次元官网网址� with St. JohnB次元官网网址檚, N.L.-based company PAL Airlines to boost the number of regional flights in Eastern Canada.

Tim Perry, president of the Air Line Pilots AssociationB次元官网网址檚 Canadian segment, said that the deal was out of bounds, due to the contract between Jazz and Air Canada.

B次元官网网址淭he arrangement was that it was exclusivity. So when flying was assigned or when deals were struck with PAL, weB次元官网网址檙e basically saying that that was done in contravention of previous agreements,B次元官网网址� he said in a telephone interview from Winnipeg.

Rather than boost compensation and benefits to pilots B次元官网网址� and thus attract and retain more in order to expand flight capacity at Jazz B次元官网网址� management took another route, he said. On top of partnering with PAL, that path also saw Air CanadaB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渕icromanaging what Jazz and Chorus are able to work out in bargainingB次元官网网址� and setting an effective cap on JazzB次元官网网址檚 spending, Perry claimed.

Air Canada and Jazz also encroached on pilotsB次元官网网址� labour rights by B次元官网网址渞efusing to comply with contractual pilot B次元官网网址榝lowB次元官网网址� agreements,B次元官网网址� which see a certain number of pilots trickle from Jazz to Air Canada each year, according to a union statement.

Air Canada said it is reviewing the unionB次元官网网址檚 filing, noting the airline has a long-standing relationship with Jazz.

B次元官网网址淭his relationship has been instrumental in our ability to serve communities throughout Canada. As this matter is in front of the board, we will not comment further on the complaintB次元官网网址檚 merit,B次元官网网址� spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said in an email.

B次元官网网址淲ith respect to PAL, it is in the context of JazzB次元官网网址檚 pilot availability challenges and our desire to continue serving certain communities that some interim lift was acquired through PAL.B次元官网网址�

Chorus said it does yet have the full details of the complaint, and does B次元官网网址渘ot comment on matters before the labour board or any court or tribunal.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淛azz has a strong history of finding solutions and collaborating effectively with its unions. We look forward to working with ALPA to better understand and resolve their concerns,B次元官网网址� spokeswoman Lauren Dunn said in an email.

The Jazz pilots launched the unfair labour practice complaint the same day B次元官网网址� Monday B次元官网网址� that they ratified an amended collective agreement with their Chorus.

Jazz president Randolph deGooyer said the tweaked deal recognizes the upward shift in pilot wages and expands the airlineB次元官网网址檚 recruitment and training options.

B次元官网网址淭hrough this modified agreement, we have shown a shared commitment to addressing industry challenges collaboratively,B次元官网网址� deGooyer said in a release.

B次元官网网址淭hese changes will further position Jazz as the leading regional operator in Canada,B次元官网网址� added Chorus president Colin Copp.