ALPA President Capt. Lee Moak yesterday sent the following letter to the National Mediation Board (NMB) on behalf of the United/Continental pilots with regard to negotiations and mediation for a new joint collective bargaining agreement with United Airlines. In the letter, Capt. Moak notes the unacceptably long duration of negotiations and mediation so far, expresses the pilots’ commitment to the upcoming schedule of intense negotiations and mediation, and requests that the Board further use its powers under the Railway Labor Act to help bring about an agreement with a proffer of arbitration, and if that is not accepted by the company and union, by a release from mediation.