Keewatin Air pilots have ratified their first collective agreement, securing “significant improvements” to scheduling, vacation, and overtime, their union said.
Out of the 84 percent of eligible pilots who voted on the two-year agreement, 89 percent voted in favour, said the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA).
“From the onset of negotiations, we wanted to ensure that to attract and retain pilots, we needed a contract that provides enhancements to quality of life,” said Capt Lahiru Gunawardhana, chair of the Keewatin ALPA Master Executive Council (MEC), in a release.
“Our pilots will now be able to balance their work and home life through guaranteed vacation days, solidified parameters around overtime, and the implementation of a seniority-based bidding system.”
Keewatin operates charter and air-ambulance services in Nunavut and the Canadian Arctic.
“I am proud of the work we have done to achieve our first contract, as well as what this agreement means for our pilots,” said Gunawardhana.
“This newly ratified first collective agreement is a good foundation for us to layer on for years to come. Each subsequent agreement will build on the successes of this one and assist with career progression with our members.”
Approximately 120 pilots are impacted by the agreement. It goes into effect immediately and is set to expire Dec. 31, 2026.
