Release #05.MAG2
February 3, 2005

Enough is Enough: Pilots to Picket Shareholders Meeting 

Mesa pilots demand contract compliance

Who: Mesa Air Group Pilots

What: Mesa pilots are picketing to demonstrate their frustration with management's refusal to comply with their contract. The picketing coincides with the Mesa Air Group shareholders meeting being held at corporate headquarters.

Management touts Mesa's growth and pays lip-service to the employees for its success, yet refuses to follow the mutually agreed upon contract. In fact, they broke off discussions with the pilot group and continue to violate the pilots' contractual rights.

When: Tuesday, February 8, 2005 10 a.m.

Where: In front of the Gateway Plaza 44th Street and the DoubleTree entrance, just north of Van Buren Phoenix, AZ, 85008

Why: Enough is Enough! Twenty-three months ago, the pilot group signed a contract with management that allowed for unprecedented growth in an airline environment of instability and furloughs. Since that time, numerous contract violations have led to an abundance of grievances increasing labor unrest. Pilots entered into negotiations with management in November 2004 to resolve contract violations and agreed to discuss management's issues. Management has since closed the door on these discussions, and has not yet resolved the many outstanding grievances.

The Air Line Pilots Association is the bargaining agent for the nearly 1,700 pilots at Mesa Air Group, which includes Mesa, Air Midwest and Freedom Airlines. Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world's largest pilot union, representing approximately 64,000 pilots at 43 airlines in the United States and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org.

Mesa Air Group is one of the only profitable airlines today and recently reported record quarterly earnings of $13 million. With nearly 1,100 departures per day to cities throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico, Mesa Air Group operates independently and under United Express, US Airways Express, America West Express and Midwest Express.

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ALPA Contact: Lydia Jakub, 602-306-1208