Tag Archives: ALPA

Air Canada’s pilots join ALPA

The Executive Board of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) approved by acclamation the merger between the Air Canada Pilots Association (ACPA) and ALPA, the world’s largest pilots union. Following the vote, the presidents of both organizations signed the merger agreement. Air Canada now becomes ALPA’s 40th pilot group, growing the Association to more than 73,000 members. 

The merger agreement goes into effect immediately, and all representation rights transfer from ACPA to ALPA with notification to the Canada Industrial Relations Board. The two sides reached a merger agreement in principle in March, and Air Canada pilots voted overwhelmingly to ratify the deal on May 1.

Air Canada employs more than 4,500 pilots who fly passengers and cargo around the world on Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge, with headquarters near Toronto’s Pearson Airport and pilot bases in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and Winnipeg.

WestJet to lock out its ALPA pilots

The WestJet Group has issued a lockout notice to the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the union that represents WestJet and Swoop pilots, in response to their strike notification. A work stoppage could occur as early as Friday, May 19, 2023, at 3 a.m. MT.

Issuing notice does not mean a work stoppage will occur. However, in the coming days, the WestJet Group will take all necessary actions to manage the impacts as much as possible, including:

  • Beginning preparations to operate a reduced schedule – unfortunately, this will be a significant reduction from WestJet and Swoop’s current networks.
  • Proactively managing changes and cancellations, to ensure the ability to communicate with guests in advance of changes.
  • Providing flexible change and cancel options for those who wish to make alternate arrangements.

Throughout negotiations, the WestJet Group has brought forward a generous contract that if agreed to will make its first officers and captains the highest paid narrow-body pilots in Canada, with a significant advantage over the next best paying Canadian airline. Furthermore, the proposed contract makes generous advancements to address the concerns of WestJet and Swoop pilots surrounding job security and scope. Despite efforts to be reasonable and provide significant improvements to the current contract, the union maintains its expectation of closing in towards U.S.–like wages, despite living and working in Canada. This expectation is not reasonable and is impeding the WestJet Group’s ability to reach an agreement in advance of the upcoming long weekend.

United Airlines pilots picket across the country for a better contract

ALPA issued this statement:

3,000 United Airlines pilots, joined by ALPA president Capt. Jason Ambrosi, fellow ALPA pilots, and union supporters stood shoulder to shoulder in a coast-to-coast picketing event on May 12 to make their voices heard as management makes no significant movement to modernize their antiquated contract.

United pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), protested management’s refusal to recognize the vital role the pilots play in their company’s success.

“I am proud to stand here today to send United Airlines management a message that the airline’s pilots have the full backing of their international union in their fight for the contract they have earned,” said Ambrosi. “United management needs to stop slow-rolling negotiations that have dragged into their fifth year and do the right thing for their pilots.”

“United pilots will always be there for our customers,” said Capt. Garth Thompson, United ALPA Master Executive Council (MEC) chair. “Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about management, who seems to think that a last-minute cancelation of a United pilot’s scheduled day off, or abrupt trip reassignments that extend into planned days off is acceptable for a United pilot’s family. This is an example of how this old pilot contract impacts our ability to maintain a healthy work-life balance. United pilots will deal with this adversity in our usual professional and safe manner. We will continue to work in 2023 despite staffing shortages in Air Traffic Control facilities, aggressive summer schedules, capacity constraints, and weather. And most importantly, United pilots want the company and the public to know that the bold ‘United Next’ growth plans cannot work without an updated pilot contract.”

https://twitter.com/UnitedPilots/status/1657939736801992704?s=20

WestJet Group statement regarding ALPA strike authorization vote

The WestJet Group has issued the following statement regarding the Airline Pilots Association (ALPA) announcement of the results of the strike authorization vote to WestJet pilots.

“A strike authorization vote is a common step by unions in context of the overall labour negotiation process and does not mean a strike will occur,” said Diederik Pen, WestJet Group Chief Operating Officer. “We remain unwaveringly committed to achieving an agreement that is competitive within Canada’sairline industry and ensures we have a long-term sustainable future so that we can continue to operate critical air service for millions of Canadians, while providing jobs for thousands at the WestJet Group.”

JetBlue’s pilots approve a two-year contract extension

ALPA made this announcement:

JetBlue Airways pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), have overwhelmingly approved a two-year contract extension that provides a compensation increase of 21.5 percent over 18 months, as well as other monetary improvements. With 95 percent of eligible pilots participating, 75 percent voted in favor of ratifying the tentative agreement reached in December.

In September 2022, the Company and JetBlue pilots entered expedited, short-term contract extension negotiations focused on achieving immediate economic improvements. On December 14, the two parties reached a tentative agreement that provided the pilots with three rate increases and a market rate adjustment that ensures JetBlue pilot pay remains in line with any compensation gains achieved by their peers at other airlines. JetBlue is currently in a potentially lengthy merger process. The agreement ratified today puts JetBlue pilots in a strong position for future negotiations for either a joint collective bargaining agreement with the pilots at Spirit Airlines or, should the merger fail to conclude, a comprehensive standalone collective bargaining agreement.

Top Copyright Photo: JetBlue Airways Airbus A320-232 WL N715JB (msn 3554) (Spotlight) LAX (Michael B. Ing). Image: 960005.

JetBlue Airways aircraft photo gallery:

ALPA sends the tentative agreement to Delta membership

Delta Master Executive Council (MEC), represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), voted to recommend that a comprehensive tentative agreement (TA) for a new pilot working agreement be submitted to the membership for ratification. The MEC also voted to recommend a letter of agreement on international job protections (global scope) be submitted to the membership for ratification.

The union’s Negotiating Committee will begin a series of road shows at each pilot base beginning January 23 to present the agreements to the membership and answer questions. Additionally, ALPA has provided the pilot group with full contractual language and launched a website that contains detailed information. The membership ratification ballot will open on January 31 and close on March 1.

Top Copyright Photo: Delta Air Lines Boeing 717-2BD N953AT (msn 55015) SEA (Michael B. Ing). Image: 959918.

Delta Air Lines aircraft photo gallery (Boeing):