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.AWA4
October 8, 2003

For Immediate Release

PHOENIX — On Thursday October 9, 2003 the pilots of America West Airlines will be conducting informational picketing to support the efforts of their Negotiating Committee who are in the midst of contract negotiations.

In addition to the picket lines that will be set up on level 2 at the northwest and southeast ends of terminal 4, the Union will also have mobile billboards displaying their message of unity to the public circling terminal 4. The picketing is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Captain Terry Stadler, chairman of the America West unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) said, "We have been in negotiations for three and a half years and still haven’t produced a contract that meets the pilots’ needs. We are focusing our current negotiating strategies on getting a contract that addresses a retirement plan, job security and a variety of other work rules for this pilot group. The pilots of AWA have provided the company and our customers with 20 years of dedicated professional service; it is time for management to stop the delay, address the issues and get this contract done."

The National Mediation Board (NMB) suspended negotiations with the pilot group and management in March, after pilots overwhelmingly rejected a tentative agreement the two sides had reached in December 2002. Contract talks had begun in February 2000, and the NMB assigned a federal mediator to facilitate negotiations in May 2001. The NMB temporarily suspended talks after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

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