Sends Message To Airlines

ALPA has a new chief, and he's on the warpath. Northwest pilot Duane Woerth lost Wednesday's union election to Continental pilot John Prater in Las Vegas.

ALPA represents over 60,000 pilots from some 40 US airlines.

Prater campaigned for more aggressive bargaining tactics with the airlines. In a release, the unions says it's sending a signal to the airlines it's ready to move into a period of strong, concerted action to rebuild its profession.

Prater's statement said the union has given for five years, losing pensions and tolerating changes to work rules. He warned pilots need to return to the hard-nosed tactics of earlier years.

"The airline industry survived because of the concessions pilots and other workers made. Now it is time for us to see a tangible return on these bitter investments."

Prater also wants a change to the age-60 retirement rule. He says the FAA should follow the rest of the world and adopt ICAO rules mandating retirement at age 65.

ALPA timed this potential sea-change in bargaining strategy at a time when the airline industry is showing collective profits for the first time in five years.

FMI: www.alpa.org