Release #02.024
April 4, 2002

MEDIA ADVISORY -- STRIKE CENTER OPEN HOUSE

CHICAGO -- On the day they will receive and announce the results of their membership's strike-authorization vote, leaders of the union for cockpit crewmembers at American Trans Air tomorrow will open their Chicago Strike Center near Midway Airport for media tours, information, and interviews. ATA crewmembers will also conduct informational picketing at Midway on Friday.

2 p.m. – 4 p.m., Friday, April 5, 2002
5333 South Laramie, Suite 119
Chicago, IL 60638
773-284-4910

4 p.m. – 7 p.m., Friday, April 5, 2002
Outside of Concourse A, Midway Airport

The ATA cockpit crewmembers (pilots and professional flight engineers), represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International, began contract negotiations in May 2000. Federal mediation of the talks began in December 2001, when ALPA informed the National Mediation Board that 19 months of talks with management had failed to yield significant progress toward a comprehensive agreement.

The strike-authorization ballot asked the ATA cockpit crewmembers whether to empower their leaders to call a strike, if necessary, in the event that their negotiators are unable to surmount an impasse. By law, the cockpit crewmembers would be able to strike only after being "released" by the National Mediation Board. Union leaders will announce the ballot results at approximately 3 p.m. in the Strike Center.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world's oldest and largest union representing airline cockpit crewmembers. Today, ALPA's membership includes roughly 62,000 cockpit crewmembers at 42 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org.

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ALPA CONTACT: Teresa Mattick, 703-448-4440