Pilot Group News
Canada
Jazz MEC Welcomes ALPA’s President To Montréal
Capt. Joe DePete, ALPA’s president, joined the Jazz Aviation pilots’ Master Executive Council (MEC) at its regular MEC meeting in Montréal, Qué., in late May—the first time in a decade that an ALPA president has attended a Jazz MEC meeting. Capt. Claude Buraglia, the pilots’ MEC chair, noted, “In just the five months that President DePete’s been in office, we can already see a positive change in the Association at the governing level. It was an honour to host him.”
DePete told the MEC that he’s committed to engaging with all ALPA members and breaking down internal barriers between groups.
WestJet Airlines Announces Acquisition
WestJet Airlines Ltd. recently announced that it will be acquired by private equity firm Onex Corp in an all-cash transaction valued at $5 billion, including debt, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals. Under the terms of the agreement, WestJet shareholders will receive $31 for each share held.
Capt. Dave Colquhoun, the WestJet pilots’ Master Executive Council (MEC) chair, reaffirmed to the pilot group that the MEC will continue to work with management to ensure the pilot perspective is considered throughout this transaction.
“Onex is a reputable organization with a history of respecting labour relations, and its willingness to pay such a premium to purchase WestJet Airlines demonstrates its understanding of the value our airline brings to the table,” said Colquhoun. “We also expect and encourage the new ownership group to continue working collaboratively with WestJet pilots to leverage our trusted brand and expertise.”
As a reassurance to the pilots, Section 1-2.01 of their new collective agreement specifically provides that their contract remains in full force and effect upon a corporate sale. There are also additional protections in the Canada Labour Code that amplify this requirement.
ALPA Welcomes Air Borealis Pilots
On June 11, the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) certified ALPA as the representative for the Air Borealis pilots. ALPA filed membership cards with the CIRB on April 4, after an overwhelming majority of Air Borealis pilots made their voices heard. It was the fastest card campaign in ALPA history and clearly showed that Air Borealis pilots are ready for ALPA representation.
The pilots fly Twin Otters out of Goose Bay, NL, and Labrador, for PAL Airlines, a regional carrier headquartered in St. John’s, NL. PAL operates scheduled passenger, cargo, air ambulance, and charter services.
Fee for Departure
ExpressJet Pilots: The Deal’s Not Done
The ExpressJet Master Executive Council (MEC) kicked off its “The Deal’s Not Done” communications campaign in Houston, Tex., on June 6 during a company-sponsored cookout to celebrate the launch of ExpressJet’s first Embraer 175. The campaign is designed to apply pressure to management to come back and negotiate the contractual gains the pilots agreed to delay during the fast-tracked Contract 2018 negotiations that mainly focused on wages. Additional work rule enhancements were codified in the Letter 2 addendum that management assured the pilots would be negotiated “shortly after” the sale of ExpressJet to ManaAir, LLC, which closed in January 2019.
“ExpressJet pilots are just as committed to the growth and success of our airline as management, but management’s job is not over,” said F/O Joe Mauro, the pilots’ MEC chair. “It’s time to finish what we started and come to an agreement on a pilot contract that includes career-progression opportunities as well as an adequate work/life balance.”
In April 2017, the pilots’ Negotiating Committee made an initial pass to management for a start to Section 6 negotiations. The committee didn’t hear from management for more than a year, keeping progress on a 10-year-old concessionary contract at a standstill.
However, in August 2018 management notified ALPA that a ratified pilot contract would be required to facilitate the upcoming sale of ExpressJet to ManaAir, which is partially owned by United Airlines. The timeline management allowed after more than a year of not wanting to negotiate? A mere 45 days. In order to place the company in a position to succeed, the pilots ratified Contract 2018 in the allowed timeline.
“ExpressJet pilots were tricked,” said Mauro. “Management has indicated that further investment in the pilot group will not occur. Our operation continues to be made ‘more efficient,’ but in reality, it’s being cheapened, and the solid foundation that’s been built on the backs of the ExpressJet pilot group is being dismantled at the same time other regional airlines are seeing significant investment, even outside of Section 6 negotiations, to attract and retain quality pilots. Management is ensuring that other regionals become better places to work every day.”
Mainline
United MEC Releases Leading Edge Podcast
The United Master Executive Council has released the first episode of its Leading Edge podcast. The podcast discusses a variety of topics focused on the interests of United line pilots. In episode 1, “The Railway Labor Act [RLA],” F/O James Belton (United), the pilot group’s MEC spokesperson, and Katy Adams, ALPA’s strategic communications advisor, discuss
- Why United pilots are governed by the RLA,
- Section 6, and
- The process of collective bargaining in the airline industry.
Download or subscribe to the Leading Edge podcast on Apple Podcasts and Google Play.
