The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) Canada has delivered a pointed message to federal policymakers, urging Ottawa to avoid interfering in issues that impact airline safety and collective bargaining agreements.
ALPA representatives, including union leadership and elected officials from across Canada, gathered on Parliament Hill to discuss critical safety concerns and the implications of governmental overreach in negotiations.
A central issue raised was the controversial push by some manufacturers and global regulators to remove the second pilot from commercial flights. ALPA emphasized that this potential change would eliminate a crucial layer of safety, as the second pilot plays a vital role in managing emergencies and ensuring smooth operations during flights.
“Some key stakeholders in Canada’s aviation industry continue calling on the government to relax or roll back Canada’s flight- and duty-time regulations,” said Capt. Tim Perry, ALPA Canada president.
“Our message to legislators cannot be clearer: We oppose any attempt to weaken or suspend flight- and duty-time regulations. Make no mistake, exemptions or relief from flight- and duty-time regulations for commercial operators compromise safety and increase the risk to our passengers and flight crews.”
ALPA contends that any such move prioritizes cost-cutting over passenger safety and risks undermining decades of progress in aviation safety standards.
With regard to free and fair collective bargaining, Capt. Perry stated, “earlier this year government interventions to end labour disputes in the federal sector disincentivized employers’ willingness to conclude fair collective agreements with their employees. It is crucial that the federal government refrains from interfering in the collective bargaining process to allow parties to reach a freely negotiated agreement.”
