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Fellow Porter Pilots,
Today, your interim Master Executive Council (MEC), made up of Captain and First Officer representatives, met to elect your Temporary MEC officers. They will serve in their roles until our full membership holds official elections in the near future. We are pleased to announce your temporary MEC officers:
Capt. Andrew Axson, Temporary MEC Chair
Capt. Andrew Axson, a Dash 8 Captain based in Toronto (YTZ), joined Porter Airlines in 2018. He previously worked in aerial surveying before serving the pilot group as a jumpseat coordinator and a Flywell team lead. Recognizing the need for strong representation, he co-founded and led the organizing committee, Porter Pilots for Change.
As the interim Porter MEC Chair, Capt. Axson will focus on preparing for negotiations for the first collective agreement. He is committed to creating a contract that will enhance work-life balance and provide a strong foundation for the company's future growth.
Capt. Michael Falk, Temporary MEC Vice Chair
Capt. Michael Falk, a Toronto (YYZ)-based E2 Captain, joined Porter Airlines in November 2022. He brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles, which included serving as a Chief Pilot and an experienced negotiator for ALPA. Throughout his career, he has conducted training and checkrides as a Type A ACP and has flown a variety of aircraft, including the Airbus A321, across both North America and Europe. Capt. Falk’s extensive background in leadership and negotiation is a significant asset as Porter Airlines pilots begin their unionization journey and work toward their first collective agreement.
Capt. Bradley Vien, Temporary MEC Secretary-Treasurer
Capt. Bradley Vien, a Thunder Bay-based Dash 8 Captain, joined Porter Airlines in September 2023. Prior to this, he gained extensive experience at Wasaya Airways, where he served as the Vice Chair of the Central Air Safety Committee for four years. In this role, he represented pilots' interests by collaborating with management on risk assessments and SMS reports. Capt. Vien is dedicated to ensuring that pilots' interests are a priority as Porter Airlines continues to grow. In his free time, he enjoys exploring the outdoors of Northwestern Ontario.
Each of the temporary officers is committed to representing all Porter pilots fairly, regardless of membership status. If you need assistance with a safety, security, FOAG, or pilot wellness concern, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can contact the full body of MEC representatives at POEMEC@alpa.org. As a reminder, if you feel you need help with an issue at work, you can contact any of us on the interim MEC; we have legal advisors available to assist instantly.
MEC Committee Staffing: We Need Your Help
This Thursday, the full MEC will hold a special meeting to appoint committee chairs and members. While several committees are ready to begin their work, we need more volunteers to help us set and achieve our goals as a pilot group.
If you are interested in serving your fellow pilots on a committee (such as Safety or Negotiating) or as a representative, please email Michael Falk to express your interest.
Please note that these volunteer roles are temporary and will be held until the upcoming elections. Once permanent MEC officers are elected, they will either re-appoint current members or select new ones to staff each committee.
September Schedule Concerns
Your MEC is aware of the issues with the September schedule release. Thank you to everyone who reached out to us with their concerns, as we value your feedback to ensure we can represent and advocate for you effectively and efficiently. We have reached out to management and are working to immediately address this issue. Please watch your emails for an update early next week.
Get Your Membership Card
To be eligible for voting, elections, survey, and many ALPA resources, you must be a member of ALPA. Many of you are already official members if you filled out a card during the organizing campaign.
If you haven't yet, we encourage you to apply for membership as soon as possible by clicking the link provided below. There is no longer a sign-up fee. Without a signed membership card, you will not be able to vote on temporary agreements, elect or be nominated for leadership roles, participate in surveys, or access member benefits and insurance programs.
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