Release #10.EIA2
April 29, 2010

Evergreen International Airlines Pilots Reach Tentative Agreement with Management

WASHINGTON – Evergreen International Airlines (EIA) crewmembers, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) reached a tentative agreement that will result in a new contract if ratified by the crewmembers. Mediated contract talks ended on April 16 when the pilots’ negotiating committee achieved the tentative agreement with their management.

In preparation for the most recent bargaining session, ALPA conducted a thorough investigation of the airline’s financial situation. This assessment confirmed the airline’s declaration that it presently carries an extremely burdensome debt. The pilots’ negotiating team offered a short-term, two-year contract with minimal changes. If ratified, this agreement could provide EIA time to find a solution for their financial problems.

The crewmembers will have the opportunity to vote on the tentative agreement after an educational campaign led by the pilots’ Master Executive Council, which will commence in May and run through June. This series of road shows and teleconference briefings will provide the details of the proposed agreement to the membership so they can make an informed decision on whether to ratify this proposal.

“It’s been six years of hard negotiations that led to reaching a tentative agreement. If ratified, we hope this 24-month contract will give EIA time to improve their financial stability,” said William Fink, MEC chairman of the Evergreen pilot group. “We want to support our company in its time of need and trust that in return, negotiations will resume in two years with the expectations of securing gains for the pilots and flight engineers who currently work under 1999 wages and work rules.”

The two sides have met periodically over the past six years with little progress. Mediated talks began in 2005 under the supervision of the National Mediation Board (NMB). Discussions concluded at NMB headquarters in Washington, D.C. after attaining the TA.

ALPA is the bargaining representative for the 224 pilots and flight engineers in service for EIA. Founded in 1931, ALPA represents 53,000 pilots at 38 airlines in the United States and Canada.

Visit the ALPA website at http://www.alpa.org.

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ALPA Contacts:
William Fink (402) 206-7166
Dean Kidd (208) 340-4537
Tawnya Burket (724) 622-6738