After three years of negotiations, Air Borealis pilots have ratified their first collective agreement.
The agreement was ratified Wednesday with support from 87 per cent of pilots eligible to vote and includes improvements to working conditions, compensation, benefits and scheduling measures, said Tim Perry, president of the Airline Pilots Association of Canada. He said there was.
“This is a good collective bargaining agreement. It’s a positive step forward,” Perry said. “It also brings continuity and stability to the area.”
Air Borealis, based in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, was established in 2017 through an agreement between Pal Airlines, the Innu Development Limited Partnership, the economic arm of the Innu of Labrador, and the Nunatsiout Group of Companies. The airline joined ALPA in 2020 and negotiations began soon after.
Perry said negotiations took longer than expected due in part to the complexities of Air Borealis’ ownership structure.
He commended all parties for reaching an agreement that benefits all involved.
“It was very, very important that we came to this conclusion,” he said. “And it’s not only for the pilots who fly these important flights, but it’s also for the local community, as you know. This helps Air Borealis attract and retain pilots, and it helps all pilots… It no longer needs to be scheduled on a rotating basis.”
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