MONTREAL - Air Transat pilots are preparing to strike as early as Wednesday morning, following a 72-hour notice issued by their union. The Air Line Pilots Association announced the strike notice on Sunday, citing unsuccessful negotiations with Transat A.T. Inc., the parent company of the leisure airline. This announcement comes just before the busy holiday travel season.

The pilots' union represents 750 members who voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike, with 99 percent supporting the action. The vote was conducted among 98 percent of eligible pilots. The union has been in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement since January, seeking improvements in job security, working conditions, compensation, and overall quality of life.

"We are unified, resolute, and have earned a contract that reflects today’s industry standards, not the standards from 2015," said union representative Bradley Small.

In response to the impending strike, Air Transat announced that it would begin suspending flights starting Monday. The airline stated, "We understand that this situation may cause uncertainty and concern. Negotiations are ongoing, and our goal remains to reach an agreement so we can maintain our flights as much as possible and minimize disruptions for you."

The union's strike notice comes after a 21-day cooling-off period following conciliation talks, which will end on December 10. At that point, the pilots can legally strike, or management may impose a lockout.

Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu commented on the situation, stating that federal mediators are involved in the negotiations. When asked if the government would intervene to prevent disruptions during the holiday season, she said, "These are all hypothetical questions. What I know is, the best deals are the ones that the parties arrive at together."

As the situation develops, Air Transat continues to work towards a resolution to avoid significant disruptions during the peak travel period.