Allied Pilots Association, Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association Co-Hosting Collective Bargaining Roundtable.

'Meetings give pilot union leaders opportunity to share information and plan negotiating strategy on a regular basis'

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Airline pilot union officials from across North America are gathered in Dallas, Texas for a two-day meeting that began this morning focused on discussions of airline industry economics, contractual trends and an analysis of current collective bargaining pressures.

The Allied Pilots Association (APA) and the Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association (SWAPA) are co-hosting the meeting comprised of the elected leaders, negotiating committee chairs and other key representatives of airline pilot unions from the United States and Canada.

"Pilots have said it loud and clear--the time has arrived to restore the profession," said APA President Captain Ralph Hunter. "These meetings provide an invaluable opportunity to share information and plan strategy in bargaining for our fair share of the financial rewards generated by our industry's return to profitability."

In all, some 70 union officials representing pilots from 16 different carriers are participating in the roundtable-style discussions.

"Despite the fact that we fly for many different carriers, it's evident that we share many common concerns as we seek to protect and enhance our pilots' career prospects," said SWAPA President Carl Kuwitzky.

Roundtable participants take turns hosting the twice-yearly meetings. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) hosted the most recent gathering this past February in Washington, D.C.

"Our profession is dedicated to improving airline pilot pay and working conditions," said ALPA President Captain John Prater. "We learned after 9/11 that a unified effort is our only option to reach that goal."

Roundtable participants emphasized that as management at various carriers has awarded themselves bonuses, stock grants and other forms of compensation during the past couple of years, pilots' needs--both financial and quality-of-life--must be addressed as well.

Founded in 1963, the Allied Pilots Association--the largest independent pilot union in the U.S.--is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. APA represents the 12,000 pilots of American Airlines (the nation's largest passenger carrier), including 2,688 pilots on furlough. The furloughs began shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Also, several hundred American Airlines pilots are on full-time military leave of absence serving in the armed forces. The union's Web site address is www.alliedpilots.org.

Founded in 1978, the Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association is an independent union representing the 5,400-plus pilots of Southwest Airlines. SWAPA is based in Dallas, Texas. The union's Web site is www.swapa.org.