Dear Porter pilots,
It has been two weeks since you officially became ALPA members. As the transition moves along, on behalf of your ALPA Canada officers, Gilles Boissonneault, Louis-Éric Mongrain, and myself, it is my distinct pleasure to welcome you to ALPA Canada!
It is our core belief that pilot interests are shared by all who share our noble profession, and what binds us as professional pilots transcends our differences. We believe our greatest asset is our unity, and our willingness to stand shoulder to shoulder with our peers for a better future for all. In essence, we believe we each do better when we all do better, and it is with this tenet in mind that we go about elevating all elements of our professional lives. And while the pilot issues that bind us together know no borders, I want to take this opportunity to make you aware of some of the responsibilities ALPA Canada undertakes on behalf of our Canadian membership and Canadian Master Executive Councils (MECs).
As we say often, we share fundamental pilot issues and much of our union’s function reflects that, no matter where an individual pilot may live or work. This is truly the beauty of ALPA. As Canadian members of our union there are some things, however, that are different north of the border. ALPA Canada has evolved and grown over time to make sure our joint professional interests are articulated properly with Canadian institutions, stakeholders, the traveling public, and that bargaining under the Canada Labour Code can be conducted effectively.
ALPA Canada has the responsibility and mandate in our Constitution and Bylaws to represent all ALPA positions in Canada while developing and advocating specific Canadian positions and interests within our distinctly Canadian purview.
Below is some information about ALPA Canada that you may find useful, especially if you ever consider getting involved in the pilot labour movement, our Air Safety Organization and/or any other aspect of our Association.
The ALPA Canada Board: The Board meets at least twice per year, and it is where the MEC Chairs gather to set Canadian priorities and realize the synergies we naturally possess here in Canada. I look forward to welcoming the Porter pilot representatives to our next meeting in September.
ALPA Canada Committees: Canadians participate at all levels of ALPA International committees and additionally have a structure that reports to the ALPA Canada Board. The four pillars of the ASO (Safety, Security, Pilot Assistance (PA) and Jumpseats) have a structure in Canada tailored to interface with our government and other stakeholders and are often supported by specialized Canadian staff from our Government Affairs (GA), Communications, and Engineering and Air Safety departments, who reside in Canada.
Government Affairs in Canada: ALPA Canada is a respected stakeholder and strong advocate for Canadian pilots with the Federal government. Whether it be on the Air Safety Organization side or our rights to bargain fair contracts. We are excited for the Porter pilots to join our voice in Ottawa to move our agenda forward.
IFALPA – The Global Voice of Pilots: ALPA Canada is a separate and independent Member Association of the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA). This structure allows for each nation represented under ALPA International to hold one vote at IFALPA as we participate on international issues (safety and labour), one held by the ALPA in the U.S., and one held by ALPA Canada. See the IFALPA website for details www.ifalpa.org.
Benefits: We also provide valuable resources, programs, and services to Canadian ALPA Members, administered by the ALPA Canada Insurance Trust, which is a committee of the ALPA Canada Board. You can learn more about some of those services by visiting our Canadian Member Plans webpage: https://www.alpa.org/resources/alpa-insurance/canadian-coverage.
ALPA Canada now represents over 95% of the unionized professional pilots in our country. The strength and influence that comes with this unity can only lead to good things for our members and our profession. ALPA Canada Vice President Gilles Boissonneault, Vice President - Administration and Finance Louis-Éric Mongrain and I are very excited about where the unity of our group will take us, and we look forward to working with all Porter pilots in the coming years. We are extraordinarily proud to represent you and stand for your interests on the national stage. Remember, our strength is our unity. Through being united and by leveraging the power of our union, we will accomplish great things together.
In solidarity,
Capt. Tim Perry
ALPA Canada President
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