Canadian North pilots seek wage increases, better accommodation in Iqaluit
Air Line Pilots Association of Canada contract with airline expires at end of year
The union representing Canadian North pilots says it has entered contract negotiations with the airline and is seeking higher wages to match southern counterparts. (File photo)
The union representing Canadian North pilots has begun formal contract negotiations with the airline.
The pilots are asking for wage increases that match those of their colleagues in the south, and improved accommodations for pilots staying overnight at their “second home” in Iqaluit, said Air Line Pilots Association of Canada chairperson Steven Bard.
“[The compensation] we are seeking, though I can’t speak to a number value, is to be in line and significantly close that gap with our other brothers and sisters within the aviation industry,” he said.
In recent years, Bard said, pilots for other airlines have seen wage increases that have “significantly surpassed” those offered by Canadian North.
Air Canada pilots, for example, reportedly received a 42 per cent retroactive wage increase over four years in September 2024.
Accommodation for pilots staying in Iqaluit is also a major concern.
Bard said what is offered now is below the standards of accommodation for other airline pilots.
“We want equality for our crew,” he said.
The current contract between the Air Line Pilots Association of Canada, which represents 235 Canadian North pilots, and the airline expires at the end of the year.
“We want a contract done prior to the expiry of the current contract,” Bard said.
Their first scheduled bargaining meeting is in October, he said.
A request for comment from Canadian North went unanswered.
Well there goes the fares again, more increases to us customers
Ya gotta pay the boys up front.
And gals.
Only about 3% of airline revenue goes to crew salaries. That’s almost a rounding error. Most of the cost of operations is for fuel. And without the crews, preferably well-rested, the planes don’t fly.
Yea you’re right, the pilots should totally subsidize your travel through wage concessions.
Suck it up for accommodations. Locals get crap. Southerners get housing and groceries paid. Pilot profession what do you expect for pay. First 5 to 10 years as a pilot you get peanuts for pay anywhere in the world pilot shortages everywhere. Dont be coming up in the north and expect to get paid more and better accommodations. You have a roof over your head and get free food.
Maybe the flight crews can stay at local shelters and see how airlines treat stranded passengers.
“Tuff luck, you missed your connected flight. You’re on your own. Thank you. Come again.”❤️🩹
You are missing the point. Pilots each require their own accommodation to ensure that they get enough sleep before flying an aircraft the next shift. I sure as heck wouldn’t want a sleep-deprived pilot at the controls!
It’s too bad the funds to pay for the pilot salaries and accommodations cannot be siphoned from the bonuses that the execs receive instead of the customers paying for already sky-high prices!
There are empty cargo rooms flight crew can crash out(no pun intended) at.
That way they aren’t late for work.
Welcome to Nunavut.🤘
Where men are men. And huskys nervous.😜🤪😳
I have a friend who is a pilot, and I know for a fact that their accommodations when they overnight or one of the nicest units in the city. A brand new units across ventures, and 4104 What do they expect? a Fairmont hotel?
Well with Air canada pilots now getting like $400 000 per year and first class seats for free these guys will be asking for the best if the best. Now they complain about $400 rooms at aqsarniit and frob? Maybe they should get luxury limo service from airport too? Wait for ticket prices to get even higher.
Get them into the other stranded passengers places.
Where men used to be real pilots.
Angu-timmariq
Why shouldn’t their pilots be compensated in line with the rest of the industry? Their Boeing pilots are the lowest paid Boeing pilots in North America. It would be like asking an electrician or general contractor working in Iqaluit to take the lowest wage – to better suit the needs of the people who need the work done. Nonsensical.
I think some of the comments made here are disappointing. I worked for Canadian North for 4 years and saw nothing but professionalism from the pilots and flight attendants. Who do you think gets you out in the start of a blizzard in Iqaluit, our amazing pilots. Look at Rankin half the time you can’t land there because of runway conditions, in Iqaluit that is unheard of. These pilots work hard for us, especially at Christmas. This is a management issue between the airline and the union. Support our pilots we are so lucky to have some of the best in the world.
I never add any issues with the Canadian North staff. They should be prized and well treated. This airline thought has really gone to sh.. in the last years and is boarder line criminal, price gouging every chance they get. Alining the cost of tickets to the “market” is unacceptable in Nunavut where air transport is the only option available; you just end up stealing from the sick and vulnerable who fly for emergencies, and everyone else who can’t plan two or three months in advance. Also the fact that they do not reschedule a flight the very next day when a flight is cancelled like they always did is unacceptable. People get stock away from home in communities where there are often not enough Hotel rooms available. And all the mechanical cancellations are quite concerning frankly. Government needs to step in and bring back order and common sense in that company. Probably take control too. Makivik controls it’s essential air travels. Nunavut or NTI should do the same.
If they wanted matching salaries from the south, how about customers get matching ticket prices from the south, i mean 3000 dollars from a northern community to south, yellowknife to edmonton is at $150 a fare, why dont we get cheap fares like that?
I have flown many times with Canadian North and nothing but respect for the pilots and the cabin crews. They fly in the worst conditions. Also pilots are not responsible for pricing so give them a break. Issue is with company heads who sit back and decide what’s what and Pat themselves on the back with big fat bonuses.
Somebody should come up with a new game. “Airplane Monopoly Nunavut Series” would be a good name for it.
Aviation in the 1970’s (Rankin Inlet):
Pilots staying in a Quonset hut where part of the building was also as a passenger waiting room (this was before the first airport terminal building was built). Pilots slept upstairs and in the spring it rained inside due to all the condensation. Pilots were overworked (hours per day, per 30 days, tasked with loading & unloading aircraft, self dispatch, wrapping the aircraft at night, etc.)
That a bad accident didn’t happen is a miracle, and a testament to how good the pilots were. You do not want to go back to the good old days.
You want experienced pilots in the north. It takes a long time for new pilots to learn that it is not the same as flying in the south. If possible you want to hold onto the experienced pilots, and part of this is paying them what they are worth. And what they are worth is defined on a global scale. Canadian pilots work for many of the global airlines, United, Emirates, Cathay Pacific.
If I was flying in the north I would want to make sure that the crew flying the aircraft is well rested, and well fed.