Release #01.59

June 11, 2001

DENVER – The pilots of Air Wisconsin Airlines, a United Express carrier, will host a media open house and announce the results of their strike vote on Tuesday, June 12, at their new strike center, located at the Clocktower office complex in Aurora, CO. The open house will last from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. MDT, and the strike vote will be announced at noon.

What: Air Wisconsin ALPA Media Open House and Strike Vote Results Announcement

When: Tuesday, June 12, 2001
                11 a.m. – 1 p.m. MDT
                Strike vote results will be announced noon

Where: Air Wisconsin ALPA Strike Center
                14201 East 4^th Avenue, Suite 310
                Aurora, CO 80011
                Call: (303) 364-0220 for directions

Air Wisconsin’s 600 pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), currently are working under a concessionary agreement that dates back to 1994, and have been trying to negotiate a new contract with management for two years. The results of the strike ballot will determine whether Air Wisconsin’s pilot leadership will be authorized to call a strike should negotiations reach an impasse.

Captain Carl Fleming, chairman of the Air Wisconsin pilot’s unit of ALPA, commented on the negotiations, stating: "Air Wisconsin pilots and employees have been the backbone of this airline, saving it from bankruptcy and restoring it to its current status as United’s most profitable express carrier. For the past two years, while our airline has turned record profits and our management has received bonus on top on bonus, the pilots have been unable to get our management to sign an agreement that recognizes our financial and professional contributions to this airline in the past and look forward to the future."

The announcement of the strike vote will be a significant step towards strike preparations according to Captain Mitch Madison, chairman of the Air Wisconsin Strike Committee: "The strike vote signifies a collective step forward by this pilot group towards personal, mental, and financial preparations in the event of a strike; we hope it will serve as a long overdue wake up call for our management."

Air Wisconsin operates as a United Express carrier, providing exclusive service to many Colorado ski resorts and midwestern communities as well as Chicago's O'Hare and Denver International Airports.

Celebrating its 70^th anniversary, ALPA is the world’s oldest and largest pilots union, representing 66,000 members at 47 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. Visit the ALPA Website at cf.alpa.org.

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ALPA Contact: Stacy Platone (703) 481-4440 or (303) 364-0220