PAL Pilots Secure $500,000 USD Grant to Support Contract Negotiations

ST. JOHN’S, Nfld.—PAL pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), secured a $500,000 USD infusion from the union’s Major Contingency Fund (MCF) after a unanimous vote by ALPA’s Executive Board. The Association’s more than 80,000 pilots fully back this pilot group as it enters the final stretch of negotiations. The grant exists for one purpose: to provide pilots with the strength to stand firm when management fails to deliver the contract they have earned.

 “Our pilots cannot keep operating under this level of scheduling uncertainty. This funding ensures that our group has the stability, additional resources, and support we need to stay fully engaged in the negotiating process,” said Capt. Conrad Reid, Master Executive Council (MEC) chair of the PAL unit of ALPA. “We are committed to securing an agreement that delivers meaningful quality-of-life improvements and greater scheduling predictability for our members. Stable and sustainable scheduling is not just a pilot issue; when scheduling problems become passenger problems, the entire operation fails.”

The MCF grant arrives at a critical moment. PAL pilots began bargaining in July 2025. After prolonged delays, the parties entered federal conciliation September 16, 2026; the process is scheduled to conclude November 15. If no agreement is reached, a 21‑day cooling‑off period will begin November 16 and end December 6, which is the earliest date that the union could legally strike, or management could impose a lockout.

“This grant strengthens our ability to navigate the final phase of negotiations with confidence,” Reid said. “PAL pilots deserve a contract that reflects the realities of our profession, and we will keep pushing until we achieve an agreement that supports our families, our careers, and the long-term stability of this airline.”

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 palpilots.ca or ALPA.org, and follow us on X @ALPAPilots and @ALPACanada.

CONTACT: ALPA Media, 703-481-4440 or Media@alpa.org