Under the leadership of Capt. John Prater, the world’s largest airline union grew even stronger by aggressively defending professional standards, pursuing the interests of pilots and reclaiming the losses suffered when pilots helped save the industry after the events of Sept. 11, 2001. Prater was elected president of the Air Line Pilots Association in 2006 and soon made a mark for himself and his union as a passionate but practical advocate for pilots—and for all working men and women. He led the pilots in supporting other workers’ struggles and in advocating for the freedom of working people to organize and bargain collectively for a better life.
Throughout his career, Prater has served his union in positions ranging from strike committee chairman to chairman of the Continental pilots’ Master Executive Council. He also served as vice chairman of the international Wings Alliance, which is now part of the Skyteam Alliance. He led his union in standing up to such notorious airline management figures as Frank Lorenzo, Carl Icahn and Dick Ferris.
Prater, ALPA’s eighth president, has served on the Executive Committee of the AFL-CIO and on the Transportation Trades Department Executive Committee, as well as its Air Traffic Management Advisory Committee and Air Traffic Management Steering Committee. He has served on the Executive Council committees on International Affairs, Legislation/Policy, Organizing and Strategic Approaches. He was Vice Chair of the Appeals Committee.
A B-767 captain, Prater has flown the B-727, DC-8, DC-10, A300, B-757, and B-777 for passenger and cargo airlines during a piloting career that spans three and a half decades.
The AFL-CIO Executive Council thanks Captain Prater for all he has done for this council, for pilots and for all of America’s working families.