Release #10.ATI
March 22, 2010

Pilots to ATI Management: End Negotiating Stall Tactics Now
ALPA Calls on NMB to Facilitate Talks

WASHINGTON—Six years of foot-dragging by Air Transport International (ATI) management while leaders of its 170 pilots and flight engineers work in good faith to pursue a fair contract is “intolerable,” according to Capt. Tom Rogers, chairman of the ATI unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA).

After joining ALPA in November 2009, ATI crewmembers continued efforts to reach an agreement in direct negotiations with management. When such an agreement was not forthcoming, ALPA recently requested the National Mediation Board (NMB) to appoint a mediator to facilitate future negotiations.

“It is exasperating to deal with an uncooperative management when our crewmembers are so dedicated to completing our duties of delivering products for ATI’s customers on time. The reliability that we provide is a key factor in our company’s success. We are always hearing positive feedback about our performance from Joe Hete, CEO of ATSG, our parent company,” said Rogers. “The ATI crewmembers’ efforts should be rewarded by a fair and equitable contract. An improved contract would certainly improve morale.”

ATI crewmembers are hopeful that a fair agreement can be reached promptly with the assistance of a federal mediator. However, since ATI management has indicated that it sees no reason to maintain the previously scheduled dates for direct negotiations, it remains unclear as to when mediated talks will resume. In the meantime, ATI crewmembers will pursue all options available under the law to persuade management to accept a reasonable contract.

The crewmembers of ATI fly McDonnell Douglas DC-8 and Boeing 767 aircraft for passenger, military, and cargo operations around the world.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing nearly 53,000 pilots at 38 airlines in the United States and Canada. Visit the ALPA website at www.alpa.org.

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CONTACTS:
Chris Brown—(952) 853-2364
Tawnya Burket—(724) 622-6738