Air Line Pilot Magazine June July 2023

Stronger Together

Working from a point of unqualified solidarity, ALPA pilots are pushing the upper limits in achieving our union’s goals at the bargaining table and in keeping flying safe. Our success is positioning us to restore the airline piloting profession and transform global air transportation.

With recent market-leading contracts as a foundation and the vast resources of our international union in support, ALPA pilot groups continue to bargain and ratify strong new tentative agreements and contracts. In one example, WestJet and Swoop pilots ratified an employment contract with 95 percent of eligible pilots casting ballots and 87 percent voting in favor (see page 6). In another result of pilots’ unity, FedEx Express union leaders approved a tentative agreement that, if ratified by its pilot group members, will raise the bar on retirement for all airline pilots (see page 7). When I walked their informational picket lines earlier this year, I saw that both pilot groups—like all ALPA pilot groups—were deeply unified in their commitment to getting a fair contract.

While their fight against intransigent managements is ongoing, we’ve seen solidarity in equal measure reflected by ALPA pilot groups that are still in negotiations for fair contracts. ALPA supports each of our 42 pilot groups with equal determination. In fact, our union is specifically structured to ensure that every pilot group receives the appropriate resources to achieve its strategic goals. As a result, our pilots’ solidarity is combined with our union’s understanding of every issue affecting our profession—and market-leading contracts are the result.

Our pilots’ solidarity starts at the highest levels of our international union, including our Executive Board’s unanimous vote to provide the United pilot group with a $5 million grant from ALPA’s Major Contingency Fund to support their strategic initiatives. In another unanimous vote, the union’s Master Executive Council (MEC) chairs who make up the Executive Board provided $2 million in support to Air Transport International pilots to advance their plan to get a contract (see page 7).

The pilots of the Air Canada Pilots Association know all about airline pilot solidarity. Following an overwhelming demonstration of line pilot support for merging with ALPA and a unanimous ratification by ALPA’s Executive Board at its May meeting, the ALPA-Air Canada merger is complete (see page 17). With their international union’s full backing and support, the Air Canada MEC leaders have formally opened contract talks with management.

Recent deals show that ALPA pilot groups have what it takes to negotiate contracts that raise the bar for our profession. And through unity-based pattern bargaining, ALPA is transforming the piloting profession one collective agreement at a time. As passengers return to the skies and airlines are experiencing demand that approaches prepandemic records, we’re reminding airline managements that it was pilots who saved their companies. It was pilots who positioned the airlines for recovery.

ALPA pilots’ achievements in pay, benefits, retirement, and job security are capturing the attention of managements, the news media, and policy makers. Our success is also attracting other pilots in the industry who see the tremendous value in ALPA representation. The pilots of Lynx Air, an airline based in Calgary, Alb., and Keewatin Air, based in Winnipeg, Man., both recently joined ALPA’s ranks and are working to secure their first collective agreements (see page 6).

And because of the expansive work of our union in all areas of aviation, ALPA is also leading the way on pilots’ top advocacy issues. As Congress works to reauthorize the FAA, ALPA’s focus remains steadfast on protecting aviation safety and workers’ rights. As Air Line Pilot went to press, lawmakers are moving through the legislative process—and our union is fully engaged. It’s clear that we’ll face opposition at every turn, but we know that our ability to fend off others’ antisafety, antiworker efforts rests on our unity—and ALPA members always fight for what’s right.

Since 1931, nothing has changed when it comes to our union’s solidarity. Undeterred, we’ll take every possible action to hold the line in this FAA reauthorization. With our pilots’ support, we’ll prevail against special interests that seek to wipe out the achievements that have made our skies the safest in aviation history, produced a record number of pilots, and improved our profession. Our success has always been—and will continue to be—because ALPA pilots are stronger together.