Release #: 20.20
July 23, 2020

ALPA Represents 60-Plus PAL Aerospace Pilots

OTTAWA, ONT.—The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) certified the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) yesterday as the collective bargaining representative of PAL Aerospace pilots. A member of the Exchange Income Corporation (EIC) family of companies, PAL Aerospace operates intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR); air ambulance; and search and rescue operations in Canada, the Americas, and the Caribbean.

“We’re pleased to welcome the PAL Aerospace pilots, bringing all EIC airlines’ pilots into one common union,” said ALPA president, Capt. Joe DePete. “We look forward to working with PAL Aerospace pilots to achieve a collective agreement that represents their contributions to the successful aerospace company.”

EIC owns PAL Aerospace, along with Bearskin Airlines, Calm Air, Perimeter Aviation, PAL Airlines and has ownership interests in Air Borealis and Wasaya Airways—all of which are represented by ALPA. Moving forward, the PAL Aerospace pilots will establish pilot representatives and work with ALPA’s services and resources to begin negotiations for a first collective agreement. PAL Aerospace will join Bearskin, Perimeter, PAL Airlines and Air Borealis in ongoing contract negotiations, which will require EIC’s utmost attention.

“While PAL Aerospace management ran an aggressive anti-union campaign that seemed to prioritize EIC’s efforts to put profits over pilots, which is especially troublesome during the COVID-19 pandemic, we hope that management is now prepared to roll up their sleeves and start working with us in addressing the pilot group’s serious needs,” said Capt. Tim Perry, ALPA Canada president. “PAL Aerospace pilots will fly in the ranks with their fellow ALPA pilots in negotiations, and they will do so with the support and experience of ALPA’s pilots, professional negotiators, economists, and the entire ALPA staff. We look forward to further advancing the aviation profession in Canada together.”

ALPA thanks the PAL Aerospace Organizing Committee members who completed the card campaign with dedication and professionalism. PAL Aerospace is based in St. John’s and operates a fleet of King Airs, Cessna Citations and Dash 8s.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents over 63,000 pilots at 35 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit the ALPA website at alpa.org or follow us on Twitter @WeAreALPA.

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