Evergreen International Airlines pilots reject contract proposals

ALL-CARGO Evergreen International Airlines pilots have rejected union contract proposals from management after 30 months of talks produced no results, according to the Air Line Pilots Association.

The union said 96 per cent of the crew who participated, voted against the labour agreement, which was reached by representatives for both sides in April, reported American Shipper.

Employees of McMinnville, Oregon-based Evergreen joined ALPA in 2007 after three years of negotiations with an independent union. The proposals, said the union, were largely a renewal of the 1999 contract.

"The crewmembers could not get past the fact that they are working under 1999 wages and work rules and would have continued to do so for another two years under the rejected tentative agreement," said William Fink, chairman of the Evergreen pilot group.

"We are aware that the holding company is struggling to meet substantial debt obligations, but are convinced that the airline can afford reasonable improvements in wages and working conditions for its employees," said Mr Fink.

The National Mediation Board, which will determine future measures for processing the case, has been overseeing the negotiations since 2005.

Evergreen International Airlines Inc operates as a service cargo operator worldwide. The company owns and operates a fleet of Boeing 747s. Evergreen provides ad hoc, long term, ACMI, less than planeload, military and NGO airlift support services, as well as resources to support special project needs. It serves direct shippers, airlines and freight forwarders, air carriers, aviation companies, and governmental agencies through offices and affiliates. The company was founded in 1975 and is a unit of Evergreen Holdings Inc.
(Source:www.schednet.com)