Canada Board Convenes Members of ALPA’s Canada Board convened in Ottawa
December 5-6 to take action on a number of agenda items. Representatives from
all nine ALPA Canada pilot groups and the Canada Board officers (who together
compose the Canada Board); as well as representatives from the Board of
Insurance Trustees (BOIT) Committee and IFALPA’s North American Region (NAM);
and ALPA staff from the Engineering & Air Safety (E&AS), Government Affairs, and
Communications departments participated in the two-day meeting.
The Board unanimously approved the budget for the coming year and proposed
changes to the ALPA Canada Board Administrative Policy Manual. Board members
heard reports from Canada Board President Dan Adamus, Vice President Brad Small,
and Secretary-Treasurer Georges Dawood, who reviewed files they have been
working on, the top issues facing Canadian pilots, and various ALPA initiatives
that have been undertaken on our members’ behalf since December 2011.
The Board discussed a broad range of topics, including:
• the seasonal use of foreign pilots by some
Canadian carriers,
• ideas for protecting the standards ALPA pilot groups have achieved in
bargaining and advancing pilots’ career opportunities by pursuing preferential
hiring provisions in collective agreements,
• ongoing efforts to secure unrestricted access to the jumpseat for Canadian
pilots,
• organizing, and
• pending legislation affecting Canadian pilots.
Capt. Dave Peyton (Jazz), chairman of the BOIT Committee, reviewed the
various plans and services available to Canadian members through ALPA and
marketing initiatives to promote these benefits. The Board unanimously endorsed
the continued practice of paying the Basic Life Insurance premiums for eligible
ALPA members who are on medical leave of absence and not receiving airline
income by the ALPA Canada Insurance Trust.
Adamus gave Board members a comprehensive overview of the CARAC Flight Crew
Fatigue Management Working Group’s recommendations for modernizing pilot flight-
and duty-time regulations and rest requirements in Canada. Transport Canada’s
CARAC Technical Committee unanimously agreed to send the working group’s report
to the Civil Aviation Regulatory Committee (CARC), and the public comment period
will continue through January 31, 2013.
During the meeting, Canada Board members also received a detailed overview of
ALPA’s E&AS Department and reports on ALPA government affairs and aviation
safety and security issues and activities in Canada. The Board also heard from
Capt. Chris Lynch, executive vice president—IFALPA NAM and representatives from
AOA Canada, the representatives for the Canadian pilots who fly for Cathay
Pacific, and the Sunwing Pilots Association.
On December 5, the Canada Board hosted a holiday reception attended by ALPA
pilots and staff; government officials; and representatives from other pilot
unions, aviation industry trade associations, and manufacturers. |