Evergreen Pilots Union Leadership Endorses Pursuing Merger with ALPA; Signs Expanded Services Agreement

McMINNVILLE, Ore., April 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Aviators Group (T.A.G.), the collective bargaining representative for the crewmembers of Evergreen International Airlines, announced today that its Executive Board has endorsed pursuing a merger with the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA).

"Through our services agreement with ALPA, we have experienced first hand the benefits that ALPA can provide. By taking the next step and merging with ALPA, Evergreen crewmembers will benefit more fully from the experience, expertise, and vast resources of ALPA's many departments and international network," said Flight Engineer William Fink, president of T.A.G.

The T.A.G. Executive Board recently met with ALPA representatives to discuss the merger process and timeline. As a first step in that process, the T.A.G. Executive Board extended its services agreement with ALPA -- which outlines a much broader scope of services that ALPA will provide to the pilot group as the two unions move forward with merger plans.

Evergreen crewmembers have been negotiating with management for more than two years, but recently negotiations were suspended due to a disappointing lack of progress. In agreeing to pursue a merger, leaders from both unions are unified in their mission to restore the piloting profession in real terms through collective bargaining.

"ALPA fully supports the Evergreen crewmembers' efforts to achieve their contract goals," said Capt. John Prater, ALPA's president. "I believe a T.A.G.-ALPA merger will give Evergreen crewmembers the means and collective strength to do that, and will further our goal of unifying all airline pilots in the U.S. and Canada."

Established in 1999, The Aviators Group (T.A.G.) is the certified non- profit labor organization for more than 250 pilots and flight engineers in the service of Evergreen International Airlines (EIA). Operating a fleet of Boeing 747Fs, EIA specializes in charter and contract freighter operations around the globe.

Founded in 1931, ALPA represents 60,000 airline pilots at 40 airlines in the United States and Canada. Its website is http://www.alpa.org.

Contact: William Fink, The Aviators Group, (503) 474-3880