Press Release

Airline Pilot Union President Appointed to AFL-CIO Executive Council

The Executive Council of the AFL-CIO appointed Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) president Capt. Joseph G. DePete as a member of the council. Capt. DePete is the 11th president of ALPA.

“ALPA has been a strong partner in the labor movement for decades,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. “ALPA’s shared commitment to safety and protecting the rights of workers to collectively bargain is among the reasons the Executive Council is proud to have Capt. DePete’s voice. His lifelong commitment to unions and his strong leadership is an asset to the AFL-CIO as we seek to uphold and strengthen the rights of working people.”

The AFL-CIO Executive Council is composed of 55 democratically elected officials and the three top officers of the AFL-CIO. The council is tasked with guiding the work of the federation, which represents 12.5 million working men and women.

“I am grateful that professional airline pilots will continue to have a strong voice at the highest levels within the largest federation of labor unions in our country,” said Capt. DePete. “ALPA has a long history of solidarity and partnership within the AFL-CIO, and I am excited to continue working with AFL-CIO leadership as we uphold the dignity of work and ensure that the rights and safety of all workers are protected.”

ALPA, which represents more than 61,000 pilots from 33 airlines in the United States and Canada, has been an AFL-CIO affiliate since ALPA’s founding in 1931.

Contact: Carolyn Bobb (202) 637-5018