Release #07.027
May 22, 2007

ALPA Leadership Finalizes Merger With CCCA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Executive Board of the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) today unanimously approved the merger agreement between ALPA and the Capital Cargo Crewmembers Association (CCCA), completing the final step in the merger process between the two unions. The agreement will go into effect June 1, with the full transfer of representational rights to ALPA. The Capital Cargo crewmembers voted May 1 to merge their independent union with ALPA.

"I am excited to welcome the Capital Cargo crewmembers to ALPA. This merger is a clear indication that they share ALPA’s goal of protecting and restoring the airline pilot profession. We are 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,” said ALPA President Capt. John Prater.

The CCCA Executive Council endorsed the CCCA-ALPA Merger Agreement in February 2007, before releasing it to its membership for ratification. Capital Cargo crewmembers overwhelmingly voted to approve the merger on May 1, 2007 with 82.6 percent of the eligible members voting, and 98.7 percent of those casting their ballot in favor of the merger. ALPA’s Executive Board approval culminates the merger process. All CCCA elected representatives will become ALPA representatives, forming the Capital Cargo Master Executive Council (MEC), with CCCA’s president, Capt. Christopher “CJ” Johnson, serving as MEC chairman.

“Today is a milestone for every pilot and flight engineer in our membership. Joining an international union gives our members access to immense resources that we could never realize, had we chose to remain independent,” said Capt. Johnson. “Our members’ unity, hand-in-hand with ALPA representation, will be instrumental in achieving our negotiating goals. Furthermore, we welcome the challenges ahead, not only on the local level, but working with all the ALPA members to secure the future of our profession.”

The CCCA has represented pilots and flight engineers of Capital Cargo Int’l Airlines since the union’s formation in 1997. Capital Cargo Int’l Airlines is an Air, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance carrier that provides airport to airport transportation services both domestically and internationally.

Formed in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilots union. ALPA’s Executive Board is made up of the master chairmen from each pilot group within the Association. As of June 1, ALPA will represent more than 60,000 pilots and crewmembers at 41 airlines in the United States and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org.

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ALPA Contacts:
Tawnya Burket — (724) 622-6738
Anya Piazza — (703) 626-7926