Release #06.ASA
February 21, 2006

MEDIA ADVISORY

Delta Connection ALPA Pilots to Conduct Informational Picketing

ATLANTA -- The Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), will conduct informational picketing on the upper level of the passenger drop-off area on the south side of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Based in Atlanta, ASA operates solely as a “Delta Connection” carrier and is a wholly owned subsidiary of SkyWest, Inc.

Why:    The pilots are picketing to demonstrate their frustration about the lack of progress as well as the slow pace of the current contract negotiations, which have lasted for nearly three and a half years.
When:    Wednesday, February 22, 2006, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. EST 
Background:    The ASA pilots began negotiations with management in September 2002, when their most current contract became amendable under the terms of the Railway Labor Act. Negotiations have been conducted with the assistance of the National Mediation Board since May 2004. To date, the pilots and management have tentatively agreed to only 13 of 29 of the existing sections of the pilots’ collective bargaining agreement. 

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing 62,000 pilots at 39 airlines in the United States and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org.

# # #

ALPA CONTACT: 
Capt. Rick Bernskoetter, (678) 371-1372
John Perkinson, (703) 481-4440 or media@alpa.org