The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the union representing more than 2,800 pilots at American Eagle Airlines, announced in mid-September that its negotiators had reached a tentative agreement with management to amend the pilots' labor contract. Several days ago, ALPA announced ratification of that collective bargaining agreement. According to ALPA, the newly ratified agreement contains improvements to work rules and quality of life provisions for American Eagle pilots while avoiding contractual concessions."With our industry confronting pilot furloughs, capacity reductions, consolidation and liquidations, our negotiators did a remarkable job in achieving the best possible solution for the Eagle pilot group," said Captain Herb Mark, chairman of the American Eagle pilots’ unit of ALPA. "Our negotiators were asked to bring us an agreement that increases quality of life wherever possible but includes no concessions. The ratified collective bargaining agreement accomplishes our mission, while providing many improvements in ways that add real dollars to pilots’ pockets."
The agreement was presented for ratification to the American Eagle Master Executive Council, the governing body of the American Eagle pilot unit within ALPA, at ALPA’s 42nd Board of Directors meeting. When the contract becomes amendable at the end of 2012, the pilots will return to the traditional method of contract negotiations governed by Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act.
