Release #07.TAG
October 23, 2007

ALPA Leadership Finalizes Merger with The Aviators Group

WASHINGTON – The Executive Board of the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) today unanimously approved the merger agreement between ALPA and The Aviators Group (TAG), completing the final step in the merger process between the two unions. The agreement will go into effect November 1, with the full transfer of representational rights to ALPA. The Evergreen International Airlines (EIA) crewmembers voted in September to merge their independent union, TAG, with ALPA.

"I am very excited to welcome the Evergreen International Airlines crewmembers to ALPA. This merger is a clear indication that they recognize the enduring value of collective action to support our entire profession,” said ALPA President John Prater. “As the Evergreen crewmembers join our Association, we take another step closer to achieving our goal of bringing all pilot groups together so that professional pilots and crewmembers speak with a strong, single voice in contract negotiations, legislative affairs, and safety issues.”

TAG’s Executive Board endorsed the TAG-ALPA Merger Agreement in June 2007 before releasing it to its membership for ratification. Evergreen crewmembers overwhelmingly voted to approve the merger on September 5, 2007, with 79.8 percent of the eligible members voting, and 90.8 percent of those casting their ballot in favor of the merger. ALPA’s Executive Board approval culminates the merger process. All TAG elected representatives will become ALPA representatives, forming the Evergreen Master Executive Council (MEC), with TAG’s president, Professional Flight Engineer William Fink, serving as MEC chairman.

“Having seen ALPA’s immense resources in action, I know that becoming a part of this strong international union is in the best interests of our pilots and flight engineers,” said Fink. “We appreciate the support during the merger process by ALPA’s national officers and ALPA members. Our members’ unity combined with the full support of ALPA’s 60,000 members, vast resources and professional staff, will provide us the collective strength to achieve our contract goals.”

Established in 1999, The Aviators Group (TAG) is the certified non-profit labor organization for more than 250 pilots and flight engineers in the service of Evergreen International Airlines (EIA). Operating a fleet of Boeing 747Fs, EIA specializes in charter and contract freighter operations around the globe.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union representing more than 60,000 cockpit crewmembers at 41 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org.

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ALPA Contacts:
Tawnya Burket - (724) 622-6738
Barbara Gottshalk - (703) 689-4100