Always Stronger Together
By Capt. Jason Ambrosi, ALPA President
The core of our success as a union, as is the case for any union, is our ability to work as one to support each other. On good days and bad, we show our strength by lifting each other up. We’re safer together, we achieve stronger contracts together, we advocate for the good of our members and industry together, and we face uncertainty together.
We defend the safety, security, and livelihoods of all ALPA pilots through our advocacy. And in the face of economic uncertainty, ALPA is actively preparing for market instability. We know that these troubling times we’re now facing are stressful and are stoking international tension; but we’re one union regardless of national borders, and ALPA has your back.
We’re closely monitoring the changes happening in Washington, D.C., and Ottawa to ensure that aviation safety isn’t affected. This month, I joined Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy when he introduced his proposal to modernize our country’s air traffic control system. We’ve been calling for this modernization so that our union colleagues at the National Air Traffic Controllers Association have the robust and reliable tools they need to effectively and safely manage air traffic. This proposal is a step forward on that investment, and we’ll use our operational experience to work with Congress to bring this plan to fruition without any negative impacts on safety or the rights of workers.
I was furloughed early in my career, just like many ALPA members who started their airline careers at the same time I did. Because I and other ALPA leaders have experienced furloughs, we understand that feeling of uncertainty and want to do everything in our union’s power to support pilots facing career turbulence. We’ll continue working to refine and add features to the Furloughed Pilots Support Program website. And if you’re furloughed, stay engaged and let us know what else we can do to help.
Every decision that we make is driven by the democratic process. Volunteers and elected leaders are fundamental to the success and governance of our union, and we’re always working together to set our union up for future success. Because we work in an international marketplace, our efforts must extend beyond national borders.
Last month, I traveled to Incheon, South Korea, for the annual International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations (IFALPA) Conference to continue our success in building international solidarity for the betterment of our profession. For the past several years, we’ve rededicated ourselves to being leaders in the global pilot community, and this year we enhanced our leadership with the election of members to positions within IFALPA, including the election of Capt. Ron Hay (Delta) as president.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and while we should always prioritize our health, this month we’re highlighting our “Are You in the Green?” campaign to encourage members to reassess their emotional and mental health before flying; understand the source and impact of stressors; and, if needed, seek assistance through the union’s Pilot Peer Support network.
To be healthy and thriving, it takes all of us working together and having each other’s backs. Every day, I’m proud to work alongside the most talented and dedicated pilots, union leaders, and ALPA staff who make our profession safer, securer, and stronger.
As Air Line Pilot goes to press, the success of our union continues to be noticed by others. Earlier in May, our colleagues at the Allied Pilots Association (APA) voted during their Board of Directors meeting to form a Merger Committee to open negotiations to join ALPA. Entering into merger negotiations with APA presents a historic opportunity to potentially build a union that represents 100,000 airline pilots. As we begin negotiations and study what a merger would mean for both our unions, I’m committed to ensuring that any possible agreement works for ALPA and APA, protecting your interests and strengthening our ability to advance our collective interests. It should be a point of pride for each of us that APA recognizes our union’s success and is considering joining forces.