ALPA Canada Stands with Rail and Port Workers
OTTAWA, Ont.—Captain Tim Perry, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) Canada, issued the following statement following the recent release of a report by the Senate Standing Committee on Transport and Communications titled Keep Canada Moving: Labour, Management and Supply Chain in the Rail and Maritime Sectors.
“In its report, the Committee made several recommendations to the government, including a call to remove the ability to strike and impose contracts on rail and port workers.
“The collective bargaining process and the constitutionally protected right to strike are fundamental tools workers rely on to negotiate contracts, improve working conditions, and bring stability to our workforces.
“In our view, the recommendations set out in the Senate report do not reflect the economic or cultural realities of Canada’s labour market. In short, the recommendations undermine the collective bargaining process and represent a dangerous step backward for Canadian workers.
“While this report focuses on rail and port workers, adopting its recommendations sets a troubling precedent for all workers. If these rights can be stripped from one transport sector, then all sectors of transportation are at risk. If we don’t act, who’s to say those of us who work in the aviation sector won’t be next?
“That is why ALPA Canada supports the Canadian Labour Congress’ letter-writing campaign to tell Canada’s senators just how out of touch their recommendations are. We have encouraged our own members to stand up for workers’ rights across Canada and, ultimately, the interests of our careers and profession.”
Founded in 1931, ALPA is the largest airline pilot union in the world and represents more than 80,000 pilots at 42 U.S. and Canadian airlines. Visit ALPA.org or follow us on X @ALPAPilots.
CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703-481-4440 or Media@alpa.org
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