Release #11.CNP
June 16, 2011

Canadian North Pilots Ratify Tentative Labour Agreement
Pilot Negotiators Garner First Contract as ALPA Members

OTTAWA, ONT.— The pilots of Canadian North, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), have ratified a tentative labour agreement with members of the Canadian North Pilots Association (CNPA). Nearly 80 percent of pilots who cast ballots voted in favor of the contract, making it the first collective agreement since they joined ALPA earlier this year.

“We are really pleased with the results,” said Capt. Chris Kampen, Canadian North’s master executive chairman at ALPA. “The successful ratification by Canadian North pilots represents more than two years of hard work at the negotiating table.” The achievements made in the agreement reflect advances in employment protection for long-term job stability, pay rate, and overall quality-of-life improvements. Their previous contract expired in December 2008 but negotiations were postponed until December 2009.

Kampen credits the leadership and support of the pilots’ union and the experience and dedication of the Canadian North pilots. “We could not have done this without the strength and solid backing of ALPA and the remarkable commitment of our pilot volunteers, who executed an effective communications network for all of our pilots,” he said.

“I want to congratulate the Canadian North flight crewmembers for demonstrating an unwavering dedication toward accomplishing their contract goals,” said Capt. Lee Moak, ALPA’s president. “They are well positioned to implement their newly ratified contract with the full support, resources, and voice of the world’s most powerful pilot union.”

ALPA’s Executive Board unanimously approved a merger with the Canadian North Pilots Association (CNPA) back in April. The 108 flight crewmembers of Canadian North overwhelmingly voted in support of the merger, which became effective on May 1. “We’re eager to begin working with ALPA and contributing to its success,” said Kampen. “We also look forward to promoting the interests and needs of our Canadian North flight crewmembers.”

They are the ninth pilot group in Canada to join ALPA, further strengthening ALPA’s position as the preeminent voice of commercial pilots in North America. In addition to ALPA’s U.S. carriers, Canadian North joins eight other Canadian carriers – Air Transat, Bearskin Airlines, Calm Air, CanJet, First Air, Jazz, Kelowna Flightcraft, and Wasaya Airways – whose pilots are represented by ALPA.

Canadian North is a major provider of scheduled passenger and cargo services from Edmonton and Ottawa to points throughout the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. They offer non-scheduled charter flights throughout Canada and the U.S. Canadian North is headquartered in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. The airline operates a fleet of B737-300s, B737-200s, and Dash 8-100s.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing more than 53,000 pilots at 39 airlines in the United States and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at http://www.alpa.org/.

CONTACTS:

Captain Chris Kampen, chris.kampen@alpa.org; Captain John Hankirk, john.hankirk@alpa.org; Lynn Konwin, 703-481-4468; lynn.konwin@alpa.org.