The ability to effectively resolve disputes with our employer and uphold our collective agreement is fundamental to rebuilding trust in our association and developing a sustainable relationship with management, promoting a climate of mutual respect. Misunderstood language coupled with inconsistent approaches to pilot representation impairs our members’ ability to realize and enjoy their full rights under the collective agreement.

We recognize that pilot leaders need time off to represent their pilots and do the work of running our association. We simply cannot expect our elected leadership to be effective unless they can devote themselves to the task at hand. We also acknowledge the importance of pilot reps being out on the line, working along side the membership, building relationships and bringing the daily experience of flying the line back to the association.

Union mergers are complex, but this is work that has already made serious headway. Recently, ACPA and ALPA International (ALPA) agreed to a Unity Initiative process which evaluated what changes might be necessary if the Air Canada pilots chose to merge ACPA into ALPA.

We believe dues represent an investment in our profession, especially as we navigate through the current health and economic crisis. These are just a few of the reasons we believe that higher dues are necessary, regardless of what flag we fly above our association…

Seniority remains the cornerstone of our contract, this crisis underscores the continued need for seniority provisions such as furlough language. At the same time, a pilot’s seniority becomes meaningless when it is not paired with predicable work rules assuring a minimum quality-of-life in a scenario, such as the in current moment, where relative seniority becomes stagnant for longer periods.