FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Captain Dennis Tajer
817-302-2350/847-902-8481
Gregg Overman
817-302-2250/817-312-3901
ALLIED PILOTS ASSOCIATION: "A VOTE FOR BASIC FAIRNESS"
FORT WORTH, Texas (Dec. 15, 2014) — Allied Pilots Association President Capt. Keith Wilson applauded Congress for approving legislation that provides American Airlines employees the same tax treatment as other airline workers who experienced economic losses in recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructurings. The House version of the bill is H.R. 2591, and the Senate version is S. 2614.
"We are grateful to lawmakers for passing this important legislation. In particular, we want to express our appreciation to key House leaders including co-sponsors Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) and Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL), who were instrumental in generating strong bipartisan support for the bill," Capt. Wilson said. "On the Senate side, sponsor Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) and co-sponsor Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) were likewise critical to the bill's passage.
"We would also like to thank American Airlines Group Senior Vice President-Government Affairs Will Ris and his staff for their support. The APA Government Affairs Committee, our professional advisers and many APA members at large put forth a tremendous effort, but we didn't do it alone. This successful outcome shows what can be accomplished when labor and management work together to address issues of common concern."
The legislation will enable American Airlines employees to defer taxes on a portion of the equity they received in the restructured airline to help compensate them for losses sustained in Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
"House and Senate lawmakers have cast a vote for basic fairness. On behalf of the pilots of American Airlines, we would like to thank every lawmaker who lent their support," Capt. Wilson said.
Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY), the original sponsor of the House bill, agreed. "I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for coming together to restore retirement security for the many hardworking airline professionals of American Airlines who keep us safe as we travel the skies."
Founded in 1963, the Allied Pilots Association — the largest independent pilots union in the United States — is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. APA represents the 15,000 pilots of American Airlines and US Airways, including several hundred pilots on full-time military leave of absence serving in the armed forces. The union's website is www.alliedpilots.org. American Airlines is the world's largest passenger airline.