The discontent rises to Inuit air pilots

Inuit air pilots are starting to show signs of impatience in the face of the slow negotiations surrounding their collective agreement, which have been continuing for a year and a half.

A conciliation process has been initiated recently, in order to reach an agreement, but discussions trample, according to the association of Inuit air pilots.

According to the union, the working conditions and the salary scale offered by the company do not allow retention of its experienced pilots.

Several pilots would even think of leaving the company, in a context of strong competition between airlines.

Our current working conditions are out of step with the air industry, and this weakens our ability to keep qualified pilots in postdenounces the Ligne pilot Louis-Philippe Desmarais, president of the Association of Inuit Air Pilots.

Air Inuit is almost the only carrier to operate in small communities in Nunavik. He is responsible for the transport of goods, people, as well as medical evacuations.

The flight conditions are also very specific in the region. The weather is often extreme there, and the short tracks are mostly in gravel. The pilots are often struggling with long hours of work and must work far from their home.

The association of pilots hopes that Inuit will conclude an agreement which reflects this particular reality, to be able to keep its pilots.

The operating framework in which we work, with large weather, small gravel tracks in mountainous regions … The experience is well required, and you have to keep itargues Louis-Philippe Desmarais.

Little experience

According to the union, a large proportion of Inuit air pilots just start their career, which testifies to an issue of detention of experienced pilots.

This situation would also cause operational issues, since young pilots cannot fly under the same wind conditions as their more experienced colleagues.

Bringing drivers without stopping is part of the standard, but there is a limit. It adds pressure on operations. There are limitations that are applied to new pilots, which make you can not land because the pilot does not have enough experience to go and askadds Louis-Philippe Desmarais.

Pressure means

No means of pressure have yet been communicated by the union.

The association of Inuit air pilots, however, began discussions with the employer to Identify, if necessary, what services could potentially be recognized as essential as provided for in the law, in order that we cannot achieve an agreement.

This declaration therefore indicates that certain pressure means could possibly be put in place if the negotiations do not succeed.

We are at the dawn of a large wave of departures; This is what we are told on the ground. Before talking about anything like that, we try to have a contract that makes sense now, before people leaveconcludes Louis Philippe Desmarais.

For its part, Air Inuit did not wish to comment on the public exit of the union, but it ensures that it is fully committed and focused on signing a negotiated agreement with its pilots.