Release #04.047
November 8, 2004
DALLAS, Tex.— Elected union leaders of the American Eagle pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), on Saturday, Nov. 6, ratified a tentative contract agreement at a special meeting in Dallas. The agreement provides improvements to pilot wage rates, the 401(k) program, and quality-of-life provisions.
“These changes represent a positive step for our pilots,” said Capt. Herb Mark, chairman of the Eagle ALPA master executive council. “Our carrier has been a profitable and essential component of the AMR Corporation’s ability to compete and adjust to a changing industry. We are pleased to see that Eagle management recognizes our contributions to our airline’s success.”
The recent contract talks were the second of three amendment rounds built into the Eagle pilots’ 16-year labor agreement, which take place every four years to ensure that the agreement keeps pace with pilot contracts at comparable carriers and reflects the operational success of American Eagle Airlines.
The Eagle pilots reached a tentative agreement with management in September and worked together to draft final contract language that incorporates both parties’ intentions. Since that time, the proposal has been posted so that pilots can review the terms and provide feedback to their elected leaders.
Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing 64,000 pilots at 43 airlines in the United States and Canada, including more than 2,700 American Eagle pilots based in Dallas, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, and San Juan. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org.
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ALPA Contacts: John Perkinson, Anya Piazza (703) 481-4440