Transat

[Guest Kal]

Congratulations to te ALPA Transat pilots on their new TA.

Hope it's all you need.

Respects

Kal

[Guest bianchiboy]

From the CNW...

Air Transat Pilots Reach Tentative Contract Agreement Hours Before Strike Deadline

MONTREAL, May 28 /CNW/ -- Elected leaders of the union representing

the cockpit crews of Air Transat announced late yesterday that their 21-month

negotiating effort culminated with the attainment of a tentative agreement

with management. The parties reached agreement only a few hours before a

midnight deadline after which the union could have declared a strike upon

72 hours' notice.

"We are extremely pleased to have reached a tentative agreement that

delivers significant gains to our members and at the same time provides

stability to our employer during a difficult time for the airline and

tour-operator industries," said Capt. Martin Gauthier, chairman of the Air

Transat cockpit crewmembers' unit of the Air Line Pilots Association,

International.

"Our company is a leader in the charter sector, and for the near term we

have wages and working conditions that reflect not only the strength of the

enterprise but also the exemplary service that our dedicated cockpit crews

provide," Gauthier said.

Pending a ratification vote among Air Transat's roughly 320 cockpit

crewmembers, the agreement would provide wage increases totaling roughly

18 percent over the life of the new contract, which would expire Nov. 1, 2005.

It would also include improvements in the cockpit crews' pension plan and

working conditions.

Gauthier commended the company's negotiators and, particularly, Air

Transat President and CEO Allen B. Graham for their constructive bargaining

during the final push to reach an agreement before the impending deadline.

"The goodwill that will come out of this agreement will benefit both our

members and our customers," he said.

[60N30W]

Thanks...it has been a long road.

Regards