Canadian airline withdraws intention of hiring foreign pilots
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The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) of Canada announced last Thursday, April 17, that WestJet has officially withdrawn from hiring pilots through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), following strong union mobilization.
According to the union, the decision came as the result of a joint effort between ALPA and union leaders representing WestJet and its subsidiary WestJet Encore pilots, who took action to stop the company’s move to use the federal program as a way to address staffing shortages in aviation.
For its part, the airline stated that “the increase in unpredictability faced by most sectors is due to the current economic situation, which includes, but is not limited to, demand. WestJet, like many other airlines, constantly monitors travel demand and makes adjustments when necessary.”
“Despite this progress, we strongly urge WestJet management to work with pilot union representatives to find more effective solutions that attract and retain qualified pilots, without resorting to a federal program that was never intended for that purpose,” said Captain Tim Perry, president of ALPA Canada. “As the voice of more than 95% of unionized professional pilots in the country, we know this issue goes beyond WestJet Encore: it affects us collectively,” he added.
As reported by our partner outlet, Aeroin, the association emphasized that while WestJet’s shift in stance is a positive step, efforts to value local labor must continue. After the Canadian federal elections, scheduled for April 28, ALPA plans to pressure the new government to review the TFWP and reform the Labour Market Impact Assessment process to restrict its use to the program’s original intent.
The organization also advocates for unions representing affected workers to be properly consulted in any proposal involving the use of foreign labor. Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest airline pilot union, representing more than 79,000 pilots at 42 airlines in the United States and Canada.
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