The Financial Post reports in its Thursday edition that Air Canada pilots started bargaining talks in June amid a global pilot shortage. The Post's Denise Paglinawan writes that negotiations have already been held this year with airlines in both the United States and Canada, including WestJet. In May, Air Canada pilots joined the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the same union that represents WestJet pilots. Now, 95 per cent of all professional Canadian pilots are represented by ALPA, which is also the world's largest pilots' union. Charlene Hudy, ALPA's Air Canada chair, said members are looking for a comparable contract with those at competitors, including United Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Pilots at Delta in March negotiated a 34-per-cent wage increase over the next four years. In contrast, their counterparts at Air Canada have received a 2-per-cent increase on average each year since 2014, lagging the rate of inflation. "With the current contract negotiations, we are looking to address our issues of career progression, job security, aviation safety and really closing that growing gap between ourselves and our American counterparts," Ms. Hudy told the Post, calling the current collective agreement "very stale."