$2M Union Grant Adds Power to Porter Pilots’ Negotiation Position

The approximately 900 Porter Airlines pilots represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) are entering the final and what the union calls its “most critical phase of negotiations” for their first collective agreement. To ensure that pilots have the resources they need to negotiate with the airline, ALPA’s executive board voted to use $2 million USD from its war chest as a grant for the Canadian pilots.

“This grant is a decisive show of strength and solidarity and demonstrates that Porter pilots have the full backing of the Association to go the distance until our pilots have secured the contract we’ve earned,” says Capt. Brian Smith, chair of the Porter Airlines Master Executive Council. “Our first contract will be the foundation that will shape how Porter pilots are valued. It is time for change and for much-needed improvements to our scheduling and quality-of-life rules as well as pilot compensation.” 

The process has been on-going for over a year. Pilots first filed the notice to bargain in September, 2025. Presently, the parties are in the process of “federal concilliation” which will run until Nov. 22, 2026. If no agreement can be reached by the deadline, a cooling-off period will begin the next day, running 21 days, until Dec. 13. That’s the date the union could legally declare a strike or the airline could impose a lockout. 

“Porter pilots are raising the bar for the piloting profession in Canada, and we will not back down until we achieve a contract that recognizes and rewards the skill, professionalism, and commitment we bring to this airline every day,” Smith said.

Porter pilots will stage an informational picket on Nov. 18 at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. 

Related: Porter, Dispatchers Reach Tentative Labour Deal

 

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