Release #02.043
May 21, 2002 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Executive Board of the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) today unanimously approved the merger agreement between ALPA and the Fedex Pilots Association, completing the final step in the merger process between the two unions. The agreement will go into effect June 1, with the full transfer of representational rights to ALPA. The FedEx pilots voted April 1 to merge their independent union with ALPA.

"Throughout the Air Line Pilots Association’s 71-year history, this union has met head-on the many challenges to the aviation industry and the piloting profession, always seeking to promote all aspects of aviation safety and represent the interests of airline pilots," said Capt. Duane Woerth, president of ALPA. "We have been successful because of our strength through unity, speaking with one clear voice in representing the collective interests of airline pilots. We are proud to include the Federal Express pilots in that voice, and look forward to their contributions in shaping the future of our great Association," Woerth said.

The FPA Board of Directors approved the merger agreement on December 11, 2001, before releasing it to its membership for ratification. FedEx pilots overwhelmingly voted to approve the merger on April 1, 2002 with 95% of eligible members voting, and 90.5% of those casting their ballot in favor of the merger — posting the highest return rate on any election in FPA history. ALPA’s Executive Board approval culminates the merger process. All FPA elected representatives will become ALPA representatives, forming the Fedex Master Executive Council (MEC), with FPA’s president, Capt. David Webb, serving as MEC chairman.

"I am extremely pleased to see the FedEx pilots become members of the Air Line Pilots Association," said Capt. Webb. "Our pilots plan to use ALPA’s vast resources and its highly specialized staff to advocate much-needed changes in the cargo industry, beginning with enhanced security that meets the same stringent standards applied to passenger carriers, and more realistic flight-time/duty-time rules that take into account the rigors of night flying."

The merger agreement provides ALPA membership for FPA members, seamless transition of FPA representation to the ALPA governance structure, an Executive Vice President position with representation on ALPA’s Executive Council that makes the Association’s financial decisions, and maintenance of a fully staffed office in Memphis.

Formed in 1996, FPA represents more than 4,200 professional pilots employed by FedEx. These pilots fly both domestically and internationally throughout Europe, the Americas, and the Pacific Rim, with major hubs in Memphis, Anchorage, Indianapolis, Newark, Oakland, Dallas, Paris and Subic Bay in the Philippines.

Formed in 1931, ALPA is the world’s oldest and largest pilots union. ALPA’s Executive Board is made up of the master chairmen from each pilot group within the Association. As of June 1, ALPA will represent more than 66,000 pilots at 43 airlines. ALPA’s website is located at http://www.alpa.org.

ALPA President Captain Duane Woerth and FedEx MEC Chairman Captain David Webb will be available today for interviews at the Washington Court Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C.

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ALPA Contact: Anya Piazza — (703) 626-7926