Release #01.55
May 30, 2001

Chicago – Pilots at American Trans Air, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), will conduct informational picketing Thursday, May 31, at the ATA hangar at Chicago’s Midway Airport at 9:30 a.m. and at the Indianapolis Airport hangar at 3:45 p.m. The picketing will be held in conjunction with the company’s celebration of the arrival of their first B737-800 and is a show of support for the ATA pilots’ Negotiating Committee during the current round of contract negotiations with management.

Capt. Steven Smith, chairman of the ALPA ATA unit, said: "The purpose of this event is to show support for our Negotiating Committee at a time when we have grave concerns whether ATA can retain or attract pilots in today’s economy. We began contract negotiations more than one year ago for an industry standard contract. I am not only disappointed but very perplexed that management is unable to see the cost benefit of paying an industry average wage to their pilots."

Negotiations between ALPA and ATA began on May 1, 2000, and the ATA pilots’ collective bargaining agreement became amendable Sept. 23, 2000.

Formed in 1931 and affiliated with the AFL-CIO, ALPA is the world’s oldest and largest pilots union. As of June 1, ALPA will represent 65,000 pilots at 49 airlines in the United States and Canada.

###

ALPA Contact: Capt. Steven Smith, 206-390-8474