Still... They're Hopeful SOME Kind Of An Agreement Can be Reached

Capt. Joe DePete, president of the Air Lines Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), has issued a statement after Congressional leaders and the White House failed to reach agreement to extend the CARES Act Payroll Support Program (PSP), but announced they will continue negotiating on an overall coronavirus relief package:

“Despite bipartisan support for the most effective job-loss prevention measure on record, Congress and the White House are poised to miss the deadline to extend the PSP. While government leaders have stated they will continue talks tomorrow, for many pilots, tomorrow will be too late—their jobs will already be gone. The consequences of this inaction has a serious impact on those who are set to be furloughed at midnight tonight.

“ALPA strongly encourages all parties to continue negotiating toward a coronavirus relief package that will help stabilize the airline industry and protect frontline aviation workers.”

Last minute negotiations may still yield an agreement that could address the airline industry issue, but the intense polarization (particularly form Democrats that are refusing to give the current administration ANYTHING that looks like a win) between the two primary political parties appears to prevent any hope of a reasonable compromise.

Founded in 1931, ALPA is the world’s largest pilot union, representing nearly 63,000 pilots at 35 airlines in the United States and Canada.

FMI: www.alpa.org