ALPA President Capt. John Prater is touting the news that they have ratified the merger between ALPA and the National Pilots Association (NPA), which represents nearly 1,700 AirTran Airways pilots. The merger agreement was approved by ALPA’s Executive Board Wednesday at its quarterly meeting.

“I speak on behalf of all ALPA pilots when I say we are extremely pleased with the AirTran pilots’ landslide vote to merge with ALPA and with today’s ratification.

“AirTran pilots have demonstrated impressive solidarity with their vote, and they have set a high bar of union participation. They bring with them first-hand experience of pilots who have courageously and diligently combated their management’s effort to bargain a concessionary agreement. We look forward to working together to secure the fair contract they deserve.

“Their landslide vote to merge with ALPA also demonstrates that AirTran pilots want representation by a strong international union that is run by airline pilots and for airline pilots. I commend the organizing leaders, and all AirTran pilots, for pursuing a focused vision of ALPA representation.

“Through this ALPA-NPA merger, our union’s collective strength will become even greater, as we move one step closer to unifying pilot groups of all sizes and that fly all types of aircraft for airlines throughout the United States and Canada.”

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilots union, representing nearly 54,000 pilots at 36 airlines in the United States and Canada.

FMI: www.alpa.org