Air Inuit Pilots Enter Conciliation Phase
Montreal, P.Q.— After a year and a half of negotiations, the pilots of Air Inuit, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), have officially filed a Notice of Dispute with the Minister of Labour requesting conciliation assistance. This decision marks a major milestone in the negotiation process for their first collective agreement as ALPA members.
“While progress has been made over the course of several meetings, disagreement remains over financial and salary-related issues,” explains Louis-Philippe Desmarais, chair of the Master Executive Council for Air Inuit. “Pilots believe that management’s proposals fall well below current industry standards and fail to reflect the evolving realities of the aviation sector, particularly the unique challenges of operating in the North.”
ALPA’s request for conciliation was filed with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service on June 18. The Minister of Labour has 15 days to appoint a conciliator. Once appointed, the conciliator will have 60 days to assist the parties in their discussions and work toward a resolution.
The pilots’ key demands focus on wages and improving quality of life, including predictable schedules. According to the pilots, fair compensation, predictable schedules, and basic benefits are crucial to retaining experienced crew members, especially given the demanding nature of northern routes.
Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 79,000 pilots at 42 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit ALPA.org or follow us on Twitter @ALPAPilots.
-###-
CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703-481-4440 or Media@alpa.org
Featured Articles
