Porter Pilots Join the Ranks of ALPA Members

On August 11, the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) certified ALPA as the bargaining representative for more than 800 pilots at Porter Airlines. Porter’s pilots are now the 43rd pilot group to join the Association, and the 22nd in Canada—further strengthening the unified voice of professional airline pilots.

“We’re proud to welcome the pilots of Porter Airlines to ALPA and expand the strength and power of our international union,” said Capt. Jason Ambrosi, the Association’s president, after the CIRB certification. “We’re always stronger together, and bringing our brothers and sisters at Porter into ALPA will not only improve their ability to negotiate good contracts, but also ensure that safety and workers’ rights remain front and center.”

Porter’s pilot group has grown significantly in the last five years and operates Embraer E195-E2s and de Havilland Dash 8-400s. This rapid expansion has made Porter the fourth-largest pilot group in Canada. Until the certification of ALPA as the bargaining agent for the pilots, Porter was the largest nonunionized carrier in the country.

“With the addition of the Porter pilots, more than 13,500 pilots composing 95 percent of Canada’s professional pilots are now represented by the Association,” Capt. Tim Perry, ALPA Canada president, remarked. “Porter pilots are instrumental to the airline’s considerable success. Our immediate priority is to help them negotiate a fair collective agreement that recognizes their significant contributions to the airline. The pilots are entering a new chapter, and we stand with them as they build a strong and bright future within our industry.”