Release #01.80
August 12, 2001

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Negotiators and elected leaders representing the pilots at United Express carrier Air Wisconsin today reached a tentative agreement for a new labor contract, avoiding a strike that was scheduled for midnight tonight. In the days ahead, the union leaders will provide information on the proposed terms to the more than 600 Air Wisconsin pilots, who will determine the final outcome through a ratification ballot.

"We are very pleased that we reached an agreement that improves so many areas of our contract," said Captain Carl Fleming, chairman of the Air Wisconsin pilots’ unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, International. "This tentative agreement addresses our most important goals from obtaining adequate rest provisions to job security to retirement. On behalf of the Air Wisconsin pilots, I want to express our sincere gratitude for the outpouring of support that we received from our fellow ALPA pilots," Fleming said.

The Air Wisconsin pilots’ negotiators had met with the company’s bargaining team since Wednesday at the offices of the National Mediation Board for a final round of talks before the strike deadline. The NMB, which oversees airline labor negotiations, became involved in the pilots’ contract talks in September 2000 when the progress of negotiations, already more than a year old at that time, began to slow.

"Air Wisconsin pilots deserve tremendous credit for demonstrating that a determined pilot group, backed by a strong national union and taking a fair stance at the bargaining table, can achieve its goals. The Air Wisconsin contract will set the new standard for pilots in this important part of the airline business. It further advances recent gains made at Comair and elsewhere for pilots flying small jets," said Capt. Duane Woerth, president of ALPA.

"This tentative agreement is yet another affirmation of the effectiveness of the Railway Labor Act. By reaching a mutually agreed-upon outcome, as opposed to having an outcome forced upon them, the parties have created the conditions for a constructive working relationship, allowing them to collaborate in serving their customers well," Woerth said.

ALPA, founded in 1931, is the nation’s oldest and largest pilots union. It represents 67,000 airline pilots at 47 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. Visit the ALPA Web site at http://cf.alpa.org.

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ALPA CONTACT: Captain Mitch Madison, 877-610-6333