Sunwing proposed hiring temporary foreign pilots; union concerned

A labour union is raising concerns about Sunwing's proposal to hire temporary foreign workers to address Canada's pilot shortage in preparation for the winter travel surge, arguing the airline hasn't done enough to attract local employees<br/>Unifor, which represents 16,000 members across Canada's aviation sector, said Tuesday that Sunwing has not done enough to fill open positions locally or invest in training programs for Canadian pilots. "To attract the pilots that are in this country, to make them want to come to Sunwing and fly, they are looking for pay, they are looking for job security, they are looking for a future with a specific airline and I don't think Sunwing has done enough," said Barret Armann, president of Unifor Local 7378. A job posting for Sunwing pilots offered temporary foreign pilots from Europe a fixed rate of US$9,500 per month compared to Canadian first officers who are offered US$5,500 per month, while requiring less flight experience, said Armann. He said hiring temporary foreign workers for shorter periods of time will end up costing the airline more in the long run. Sunwing denounced the union's claims that the airline is hiring temporary foreign workers as a cheaper alternative to domestic pilots. "Assertions being made by Unifor Local 7378 that Sunwing Airlines' plans to hire seasonal foreign pilots as a `cheaper alternative' to hiring Canadian pilots is categorically untrue," said Len Corrado, president of Sunwing, in an emailed statement.<br/>