Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) Certifies ALPA As The Collective Bargaining Representative For The Airlines' Pilots

The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) certified the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) yesterday as the collective bargaining representative of Bearskin and Perimeter pilots. With 93 percent of eligible pilots participating in the representation election, 74 percent voted in favour of joining the world’s largest pilot union.

“We’re pleased to welcome the Perimeter pilots into our union, taking us one step closer to having all pilots of the parent company, Exchange Income Corporation [EIC], represented by one common union,” said ALPA president Capt. Joe DePete. “As Bearskin pilots know, ALPA solely represents commercial pilots in North America, and we have a long history of always putting our members’ interests first. We look forward to working with both pilot groups to achieve a joint collective agreement that represents their collective contributions.”

EIC owns both Bearskin Airlines and Perimeter Aviation, and in the fall of 2017 announced plans to merge the two airlines into one entity. Perimeter pilots were represented by Unifor, while ALPA represented the Bearskin pilots. In December 2018, Unifor filed an application with the CIRB seeking to represent both pilot groups after the forthcoming merger. In January, ALPA filed its reply to Unifor’s application, requesting the CIRB conduct a representation vote and order the parties to begin negotiations for a new joint collective agreement.

“The pilots of Bearskin and Perimeter have the same mutual goal—ensuring the safety of our customers and cargo. It is only fitting that we have the same union,” said Capt. Kim Steingass, chairman of the Bearskin pilot group. “Bearskin pilots have long felt that our future was enhanced by being part of ALPA, and we are glad that our fellow pilots at Perimeter agreed with us in such large numbers.”

Moving forward, the Perimeter pilots will establish pilot representatives and work with the existing Bearskin pilot representatives to begin negotiations for a joint collective agreement followed by merging their pilot seniority lists.

“Adding Perimeter pilots to ALPA demonstrates the Canadian pilots’ resolve to speak with one voice,” said Capt. Tim Perry, ALPA Canada president. “As these pilots head directly into joint negotiations, they do so with the support and experience of ALPA’s pilots, professional negotiators, economists, and the entire ALPA staff. We look forward to further advancing the aviation profession in Canada together.”

(Source: ALPA news release)

FMI: www.alpa.org