Release #08.ACJ
February 1, 2008

Pilots Union at Air Canada Jazz Elects Officers

Victoria, British Columbia — Representatives of the Air Canada Jazz pilots union, a unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), today announced that they have reelected Capt. Brian Shury to serve as chairman of the union’s governing body, the Master Executive Council (MEC). Also reelected during the union’s regular quarterly meeting in Victoria were Capt. Rod Lypchuk as vice-chairman, Capt. Terry McTeer as secretary, and Capt. Tim Squires as treasurer. The two-year terms begin February 7, 2008.

The reelection of all four officers signals a strong and unified pilot group that has given a clear vote of confidence to their union leaders as they prepare to enter into contract negotiations beginning in early 2009.

“The reelected MEC officers will work tirelessly on behalf of our pilot group as we prepare for an upcoming round of collective bargaining,” said Shury. “Our company has the means to provide compensation and a lifestyle that reflect the enormous contribution our pilots made in rebuilding the prosperity of Air Canada Jazz. Our goal for 2009 will be nothing less than achieving a Collective Bargaining Agreement that restores respectability and dignity to our pilots.”

Shury, a Toronto-based CL-65 captain, was hired by Jazz in 1989. He has served in several capacities within ALPA, including vice chair of the MEC and chair of the negotiating and grievance committees. He was first elected chairman of the Jazz pilot group in January 2006.

Lypchuk, a Calgary-based Dash-8 captain, was hired at Jazz in 1989. He has taken on many roles with the union, including MEC vice chair in 2005 and MEC treasurer from 2001 to 2005, at the inception of Air Canada Jazz. Lypchuk also was secretary-treasurer for AirBC from 1995 to 2001, before AirBC merged with four other airlines to create Air Canada Jazz.

“The Jazz pilots were direct and full participants in the rebirth of Jazz,” said Lypchuk. “Their sacrifices now need to be recognized by the unit holders and management of the company.”

Capt. McTeer has been with Air Canada Jazz since 1985 and is a Dash-8 pilot based in Vancouver. Capt. Squires is based out of Toronto as a CL-65 pilot and started with the company in 1993.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing 60,000 pilots at 43 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. Please visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org for more information.

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CONTACT: Doug Baj, (703) 481-4456