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WestJet Pilots Seek ALPA Representation Today, WestJet pilots filed membership cards with the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to hold an election for representation by the Air Line Pilots Association, International. A strong majority of WestJet's 1,400 pilots signed cards during ALPA's card-collection drive, which started in December 2016, seeking ALPA representation. "WestJet pilots told us that it's time for a certified union," said ALPA president Capt. Tim Canoll. "Now is the time for them to take the next step and vote for ALPA in order to obtain the resources available to secure their goals." The CIRB will determine the accuracy of the cards in the next few weeks. ALPA expects that the secret-ballot election will be conducted in May, and we will keep you posted on representation election dates. In the meantime, please continue your support for WestJet pilots' representation drive by sharing and retweeting our messages on Facebook and Twitter.
Frontier Pilots Hold First-Ever Informational Picket: "Stop the Looting" In a historic first, more than 250 Frontier Airlines pilots picketed Frontier corporate headquarters in Denver, Colo., yesterday to protest their stalled negotiations with management and the Frontier owners' decision to enrich themselves instead of investing in the airline. The pilots are demanding that the airline negotiate in good faith to raise pilot wages, a promise Frontier made when the pilots sacrificed millions in salary and benefits to help the airline avoid bankruptcy in 2011. "Despite our pilots' enormous sacrifice and the indications showing that Frontier Airlines is now extremely profitable and rewarding its investors, Frontier pilots are still the lowest-paid Airbus pilots in the country," said Capt. Tracy Smith, chairman of ALPA's Frontier pilot group. "The loan that Frontier pilots gave to our company is past due—we want industry-appropriate pay and benefits like our fellow pilots at other airlines."
Envoy and PSA MECs Discuss Trends and Strategies at Joint Session in Dallas
The Envoy and PSA MECs each had meetings in Dallas last week, and the two wholly owned subsidiaries of American Airlines Group (AAG) spent an afternoon together at the Envoy MEC office discussing industry trends, strategies to increase flow, staffing concerns, and consolidation in the regional airline industry. The two MECs then had dinner together to continue to build valuable relationships and lines of communication. "It's important that the leaders of Envoy, PSA, and Piedmont [also a wholly owned subsidiary of AAG] work together to prevent management from playing the three pilot groups against each other," said Envoy MEC chairman Capt. Sam Pool. "Current economic trends favor ALPA pilots at AAG's wholly owned carriers, and indeed the rising tide is lifting all our boats; however, open dialogue and teamwork are in our mutual interest regardless of the economic climate." "Instead of working against each other, we need to work together," added Capt. Travis Ricks, PSA MEC chairman. "The pilots at AAG subsidiaries are finding common ground on which to base future negotiations that will benefit the pilots of each airline." The Piedmont and Envoy MECs had a similar dinner during last fall's ALPA Board of Directors meeting in Washington, D.C., which opened the dialogue between the MECs of the three airlines. |
| Safety and Security |
Alert: New Southwest Airlines Jumpseat Policy Effective May 9
Effective the morning of Tuesday, May 9, Southwest Airlines (SWA) is scheduled to go live with a new reservation system for all domestic and international operations. As a result of this change, all pilots who wish to jumpseat on SWA must create a listing (i.e., a PNR) prior to requesting the jumpseat at the gate. OAL pilots must create these listings via myIDTravel using their company-approved usernames and passwords. SWA bookings will be made available to myIDTravel beginning April 9; however, the available bookings will only be for travel after May 9.
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Assist for a Safer System at ALPA's Pilot Assistance Forum Next Month
Mark your calendar! ALPA's 2017 Pilot Assistance Forum will take place at the Association's Herndon, Va., Conference Center, on May 23–24. The draft agenda for this year's event, appropriately themed "Assisting for a Safer System," is available on the event website, and registration is open.
Join your fellow ALPA pilots and industry professionals as they share their pilot-assistance experiences addressing pilot fitness, flying and family issues, and a host of other pertinent, contemporary topics. As part of ALPA's Air Safety Organization, Pilot Assistance encompasses aeromedical issues, the Critical Incident Response Program, the HIMS alcoholism and substance abuse treatment system, professional standards, and the Pilot Assistance network in Canada.
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| ALPA International |
ALPA Joins Forces with Indiana State University
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ALPA and Indiana State University (ISU) recently formalized an alliance to develop an Aviation Collegiate Education (ACE) Club, making it ALPA's tenth collegiate professional development and mentoring program—and its fourth new program in as many years. This program will help bridge the gap between the classroom and the flight deck—providing real-world information, tools, and resources to further prepare collegiate aviators for their careers.
If you want to get involved in the outreach at ISU, let us know. ALPA Education Committee volunteers will be on campus to talk with aviation students on May 4, and more visits are planned for the fall.
Working under ALPA's Professional Development Group umbrella, the Education Committee promotes the piloting profession, mentors aspiring aviators, and prepares future generations of pilots to join the ranks of our members. For more information or to get involved, log on to the ALPA Education Committee webpage or send an e-mail to Education@alpa.org.
| Canada |
ALPA Canada Board Convenes, Addresses Significant Issues Affecting Canadian Pilots
 Members of the ALPA Canada Board review a proposed resolution at the ALPA Canada Board meeting, April 12–13, in Calgary, Alb. |
Pilot leaders representing ALPA Canada pilot groups gathered for a meeting of the ALPA Canada Board in Calgary, Alb., on April 12–13. ALPA Canada president Capt. Dan Adamus opened the meeting by welcoming a number of guests, including representatives from the WestJet ALPA Organizing Committee and the Air Canada Pilots Association (ACPA).
In a brief to the group on the Association's Executive Council meeting held earlier in the month, Adamus, who also serves as Group C executive vice president, noted ALPA's strong financial position and continued positive trend. He also gave an update on the status of legislation affecting union organizing in Canada and Transport Canada's proposed flight-time/duty-time (FTDT) rules.
The latter is a top strategic priority for the union, and ALPA Canada has been at the forefront of efforts to advance new fatigue rules for all Canadian pilots. ALPA Canada vice president Capt. Brian Shury elaborated on Adamus's comments, describing the Association's participation in a coalition of Canadian pilot unions that is coordinating a collective response to the proposed fatigue rules. As part of the effort, the ALPA Canada Board sent every Canadian ALPA member a confidential pilot-fatigue survey, and recently attended several meetings of Transport Canada, operator, and union representatives where the Notice of Intent related to the FTDT implementation rules, which the Canadian government recently released, was discussed in detail.
The ALPA Canada Board took action on a number of agenda items, including reviewing and agreeing on changes to the Board's By-Laws and Administrative Policy Manual that align with the revised Article XXII of the ALPA Constitution and By-Laws approved by the Board of Directors last year and approving the Canada Board Structural Review Committee as a standing committee charged with review of bylaws and policies on a regular basis. In their property updates, Board members discussed issues of common concern, hiring, bargaining, and contract enforcement.
Shury also reported on the upcoming IFALPA Conference and several issues affecting Canadian pilots, such as nonpassenger screening. ALPA Canada vice president–Administration-and Finance Capt. Rod Lypchuk gave a financial update and reported that the Board's recent move to new offices was a smooth transition.
The Board heard presentations from ALPA Canada Insurance Trust/RBI Advisory Group representatives on long-term disability and ACPA representatives on the "unity initiative" related to the ongoing dialogue between ACPA and ALPA. They also received reports from ALPA staff on aviation safety and security issues, the Association's organizing initiatives, and plans for a Canadian-focused negotiations seminar.
The next Canada Board meeting is tentatively scheduled for mid-October at the Association's offices in Herndon, Va.
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| Upcoming Events |
FedEx Express Pilot Career Expo—May 3
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FedEx Express, along with the FedEx ALPA MEC, is excited to host its first-ever Pilot Career Expo on Wednesday, May 3, in the FedEx Express Experience Center. The one-day session, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., is designed to highlight what it's like to fly for the industry's premier airline, and to showcase Memphis, its global headquarters for more than four decades.
The Pilot Career Expo will feature:
- Presentations by FedEx executives and the FedEx ALPA MEC, including MEC Chairman Chuck Dyer.
- A host of exhibits surrounding FedEx operations, innovation, and approach to safety, providing a firsthand look into FDX operations, core values, and why FedEx is such a great place to work.
- An explanation of pilot hiring requirements and an overview of the application and interview processes.
- Hub tours for a limited number of attendees the evening before the Expo.
Space is limited and slots will be given to applicants who have an active profile on http://fedex.pilotcredentials.com on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Participation in the 2017 FedEx Pilot Career Expo is not a guarantee of employment with FedEx Express. No interviews will be conducted during the event.
Save the Date! ALPA Open House with JetBlue Recruitment June 1
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ALPA's Fee-for-Departure Committee is excited to announce another ALPA Open House for this summer, this time with the Talent Acquisition team at JetBlue in Orlando, Fla., on June 1. Morning and afternoon sessions will be available and will include an overview and welcome from Bart Roberts, vice president of JetBlue Flight Operations, and Patrick Walsh, JetBlue MEC chairman, followed by presentations on the airline's culture and an extensive briefing about hiring. Participants will also have an opportunity to meet one-on-one with the airline's recruiters.
Save the date, June 1, and look for more information about registration in a future issue of FastRead and on the Fee-for-Departure Committee website.
Ready to apply? The hiring window is open now.
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| News on the Net |
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World's busiest airport in 2016? It's Atlanta, again (USA TODAY)
- Malaysia Airlines will be first to track all of its flights globally in real time (CBS News)
- Attorneys general from 16 states, DC fight travel ban appeal (Fox News)
ALPA
represents more than 55,000 pilots at 32 airlines in the
United States and Canada. |
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