Release #08.DHL
February 8, 2008

ASTAR Air Cargo Crewmembers Reach Tentative Agreement on Contract
Last two weeks of parties’ intense negotiations produce positive agreement

WASHINGTON, D.C.—ASTAR Air Cargo crewmembers, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) and their management recently reached a tentative agreement on a third labor contract. The parties began negotiations in January 2005, and negotiations have been conducted with the assistance of the National Mediation Board since April 2006.

Under the terms of the agreement, the ASTAR crewmembers will receive retro pay and more than 20% in pay increases over the course of the 4-year agreement. In addition, the pilots will receive furlough protections and a commitment by the company to secure new aircraft. The same minimum credit per day was retained.

“I am pleased that we have reached a tentative agreement that offers ASTAR Air Cargo crewmembers improvements in job security, growth, pay increases, and retro compensation,” said Captain Earl Smith, chairman of the ASTAR crewmembers. “Most of all, this tentative agreement, if approved by the pilot membership, will give ASTAR crewmembers a new and well deserved combination of job security and economic advancement.”

The contract is subject to ratification by the ASTAR Air Cargo crewmembers. A series of road shows to explain the new agreement to crewmembers will take place over the next couple of weeks.

ASTAR crewmembers carry roughly 50 percent of the weight out of Wilmington, Ohio, each night for DHL, the world’s largest and most experienced international air express network.

ALPA is the world's largest pilots union, representing more than 60,000 members at 43 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. Visit the ALPA Website at http://www.alpa.org.

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ALPA Contact: Doug Baj, (703) 481-4456