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News Release
Release #02.100
November 12, 2002
ALPA American Eagle Pilots to Conduct Informational Picketing in New York and Boston
WASHINGTON, D.C. --- Uniformed pilots of American Eagle Airlines will conduct informational picketing November 14 at three international airports to demonstrate the pilots’ solidarity and to protest management actions that jeopardize the pilots’ livelihood.
Pilots will picket on Thursday from 7 to 9 a.m., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 4 to 6 p.m. at John F. Kennedy International Airport (Terminal 9), La Guardia International Airport (between Terminals B and D), and Boston’s Logan International Airport (Terminal B).
American Eagle pilots say that their management continually breaks promises made in their contract agreement. "For months, we have asked our management to engage in meaningful discussions over the airline’s direction so that we can help management promote the growth and stability of American Eagle," said Captain Herb Mark, chairman of the American Eagle pilots’ Master Executive Council, a unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA). "Despite the softening conditions of the airline industry in recent months, our analysis indicates that growth opportunities for American Eagle exist. Management has repeatedly failed to heed our call, so we need to demonstrate our frustration and resolve," declared Captain Mark.
In 1997, American Eagle pilots and management reached a historic, 16-year agreement that included a commitment from management to aggressively pursue growth opportunities. Thus far, management has not fulfilled that commitment. For example, management has begun to transfer 14 jets to another carrier, breaking its promise of long-term growth and development of American Eagle Airlines. Additionally, last week, management announced its intent to sell the airline’s San Juan and Miami operations, further crippling prospects for the long-term growth and development of American Eagle.
Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s oldest and largest pilot union, representing nearly 66,000 pilots at 42 airlines in the U.S. and Canada, including approximately 2,700 American Eagle pilots. Visit the ALPA Website at www.alpa.org.
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ALPA Contact: Miles Wiley (703) 481-4440