Release #: 22.12
April 22, 2022

ALPA, Waltzing Matilda Reach Agreement to Protect U.S. Workers

Calls on DOT to Formalize Agreement with Strong Labor Protections

MCLEAN, Va.—The Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) and Waltzing Matilda Aviation (WMA) have reached an agreement that protects U.S. workers and now seek approval by the Department of Transportation (DOT) to formalize the labor conditions in the company’s DOT operating authority. The agreement reached between the world’s largest pilots union and WMA addresses concerns regarding the company’s initial plans to conduct service as a U.S. carrier from a Canadian base, while avoiding using American workers.

“ALPA is pleased that Waltzing Matilda completely revamped and reformed its airline—committing to base all of its pilots in the United States and hire only U.S. citizens and permanent residents to serve on its flight decks,” said Capt. Joe DePete, ALPA president. “We now call on DOT to codify these labor protections in a formal order.”

Through collaborative discussions between labor and management, ALPA and WMA have agreed to and support these requirements and are in agreement that they should be included by DOT in WMA’s DOT operating authority. Enshrining these agreed-upon labor commitments in WMA’s certificate is consistent with the Biden administration’s Executive Order on Worker Organizing and Empowerment. It will continue the administration’s proactive role in promoting the interests of U.S. workers, and serve as a valuable precedent confirming that actual employment of U.S. workers is an important component of the Department’s public-interest mandate to ensure fair wages and working conditions in the airline industry.

“Throughout the pandemic, our country protected the integrity of the U.S. aviation industry and its tens of thousands of employees through the passage of the Payroll Support Program, and it’s critical that we ensure that those efforts are not undermined by those seeking to enter the industry at any cost,” added DePete. “The Biden administration, which has been the most pro-labor in decades, has an opportunity to memorialize this labor-management commitment to protecting U.S. workers as it completes the certification process.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 62,000 pilots at 38 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit the ALPA website at alpa.org or follow us on Twitter @ALPAPilots.

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CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703-481-4440 or Media@alpa.org