Release #08.ALA
January 15, 2008

Alaska Airlines Pilots Union Elects Executive Officers

Seattle, WA — The Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council of the Air Line Pilots Association on Monday night elected new executive officers to two-year terms. The election took place to fill the vacancies that will occur when the current officers’ two-year terms expire on March 1.

Alaska Airlines Bill Shivers, a 22-year captain and a member of the union’s current Negotiating Committee, was elected Chairman. First Officer Chris Notaro was elected to the position of Secretary-Treasurer. Notaro currently is chairman of the union’s Jumpseat Committee. Capt. Sean Cassidy was re-elected to the position of Vice Chairman; Cassidy also is outgoing chairman of the Labor Coalition.

The pilots of Alaska Airlines, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, are into their second year of contract negotiations. The pilots are seeking to improve and protect their contract in four key areas: work rules, including pay; retirement security; job security; and health benefits. In 2005, an arbitrated contract cut pilot pay by as much as 35%. Excluding special charges, 2006 was Alaska Airlines’ most profitable year and last year the company announced another record-breaking third quarter.

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Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing 61,000 pilots at 42 airlines in the United States and Canada, including the 1,500 pilots who fly for Alaska Airlines. The pilots of Alaska Airlines are one year into contract negotiations with Alaska Airlines.