ALPA's Communications Department provides information and support for news media inquiries. An ALPA communications representative can be reached in the Herndon, Va. office at (703) 481-4440.

News Release

Release # 03.AWA6
October 14, 2003

For Immediate Release

PHOENIX—The America West Airlines (AWA) Labor Coalition is holding a unity rally on Wednesday, October 15, 2003 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Tempe Beach Park on Rio Salado Parkway. Members from the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA), the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) – mechanics and stock clerks, the Transport Workers Union (TWU) – ramp personnel and dispatchers, and the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l (ALPA) will participate in the rally.

In addition to picketing and rallying, members of the labor unions will also be circulating in trucks carrying mobile billboards. The goal of the rally is to gather in solidarity and spread a message of unity. The labor groups share several challenges regarding the company and the airline industry: America West Airlines’ lack of contract compliance, poor labor relations, erosion of employee benefits and job security.

Captain Terry Stadler, ALPA Master Executive Council (MEC) chairman, speaking for the Coalition this week said, "The unionized employees of AWA have worked tirelessly since 9-11 to return AWA back to profitability and the product of that effort is expected to produce another operating profit for the third quarter. AWA management needs to recognize the commitment and effort of its employees, honor its labor contracts, and renew its relationship with the workers of this company. We are stakeholders in this company as much as the stockholders are; we all sacrificed to help AWA over the last two years and that effort should be rewarded.

"The Coalition finds it atrocious that senior management rewarded themselves first with a very lucrative bonus plan last quarter and then just recently, again awarded some managers with stock options, while at the same time ignoring the needs of labor. This is not the type of leadership that will continue to produce results in a service industry. The union employees of AWA are the lowest paid and most productive employees in the industry; management needs to stop exploiting its employees and reward our industry-leading service."

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s oldest and largest pilot union, representing 66,000 members at 42 airlines in the United States and Canada, including nearly 1,700 pilots at America West Airlines. Visit the ALPA website at http://www.alpa.org.

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ALPA CONTACT: Amy Scarlett, (602) 306-1208 or 602-421-8869