March 1, 2024 -- The start of a new year is always exciting to execute our goals while new experiences and relationships await. We are going on the record once again to share that AMFA’s leadership will commit to AMFA’s objective to raise the standards and increase the recognition of our craft/trade in the aviation industry.
January 2, 2024 -- It is an absolute honor to be representing skilled aircraft maintenance professionals and continuing the unification of these professions under one craft-specific union.
November 10, 2023 -- We recently celebrated the Labor Day (US) and Labour Day (CA) holidays to recognize and honor the labor movement and the work and contributions of laborers. As the labor movement grew in the late 19th century, trade unionists proposed a day dedicated to celebrating labor.
September 11, 2023 -- Twenty-two years ago, the airline industry was shaken when terrorists used commercial aircraft to attack the United States. Everyone was impacted by this horrific event and our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, families, and first responders who were directly affected. We will never forget the remembrance of 9/11/2001.
July 10, 2023 -- As many of our members are currently participating in votes and/or surveys as well as seeking information related to our many negotiating activities, please heed this friendly yet important reminder – DO NOT use your company email address for any union-related communications; please use a personal email address.
June 7, 2023 -- The months of April and May were a busy couple of months for the Association. AMFA will continue to be the voice of Aircraft Maintenance Engineers/Technicians (AMEs/AMTs) and related skilled trade professionals by leading aviation industry changes and taking a proactive approach to protecting your work and ability to earn as well as improving wages and benefits. AMFA is the only labor union that constitutionally limits itself to representing the craft/trade of AME/AMT and skilled trade groups. It is evident that other labor groups cast a wider net and utilize a more centralized system of dictators and governance that has proven to foster conflicts of interest amongst their membership.
April 14, 2023 -- Your dedication to prioritizing safety every time you touch an aircraft makes you critical to the success of any aviation maintenance operation. I encourage you to recognize the importance of the responsibilities and work you perform day-to-day: increase awareness of performing your jobs safely; maintaining compliance; be aware of your surroundings; and working safely side-by-side with your co-workers.
March 10, 2023 -- AMFA has been busy with Shop Representative Training, contract negotiations and enforcement across the system, as well as growth and outreach initiatives. AMFA is continually striving to increase the recognition and value of our craft/trade.
February 9, 2023 -- Happy New Year. Last year we had a substantial positive impact on the aviation industry across North America. With the successful ratification of the two collective bargaining agreements, successful representation elections at Sun Country and Spirit Airlines, and the Association’s first certification in Canada at L3 Harris MAS, AMFA is continually increasing the recognition and value of our craft/trade. We continue to set high goals for 2023.
December 16, 2022 -- As we near the end of 2022, we can reflect on our profound success this year. AMFA leadership set ambitious goals for the Association, and we can proudly say we raised the standards and increased the recognition of our craft in the aviation industry across North America. As expressed at the beginning of this year, our Association was fully prepared for growth this year as hiring accelerated system-wide, and our accomplished attracted Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) and Maintenance Controllers (MOC) in the United States as well as Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs) in Canada who are seeking our craft/trade specific union representation.
November 4, 2022 -- AMFA’s aim is to build the craft/trade and enhance its relevance, recognition, and importance to employers and the flying public. As the voice of our craft, we look forward to advocating and raising the standards for all of the aviation professions we represent across North America. Our legislative initiatives and achievements have defined AMFA as a leader in this new generation of craft/trade unionism and AMFA leaders are still conducting station visits to share how our members can contribute to our mission via the AMFA PAC, the first and only political action committee (PAC) representing aircraft mechanic and related issues.
October 7, 2022 -- We are happy to announce another new addition to AMFA. This is another tangible result exemplifying AMFA’s impact on labor in the aviation industry in North America and that the craft/trade-specific AMFA representation movement is accelerating. Earlier this year, the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) certified as a trade union in Canada, and earlier this week the L3 Technologies MAS at CFB Trenton aviation professionals, with nearly 100% participation, selected AMFA as their union representative.
September 9, 2022 -- Hopefully, everyone had a great Labor Day weekend. The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement. American labor has raised the nation’s standard of living and it is appropriate that the American worker recognize Labor Day and celebrate the unity, strength, freedom, and leadership of the American union worker. 140 years later, AMFA continues to progress the voice of American workers in the aviation industry, further warranting and contributing to Labor Day celebration. Guiding non-unionized, skilled workgroups to become unionized, exemplifies AMFA’s impact on labor in the airlines industry and makes it evident the AMFA representation movement is accelerating.
August 11, 2022 -- Hopefully everyone had a safe and enjoyable Independence Day celebration on the 4th of July. As I expressed at the beginning of 2022, this Association is prepared for growth this year as hiring efforts at all AMFA represented carriers remain in high gear. What is more, our industry-changing contracts, at both regional and mainline carriers, have been recognized by professional and skilled workforces resulting in aircraft maintenance technicians across the aviation industry reaching out to AMFA. It is evident we are rapidly approaching an AMFA representation movement.
June 30, 2022 -- As we hit the halfway marker of 2022, the start of July, we can already begin to reflect on the tremendous amount of success we’ve achieved thus far as our steadfast determination to raise the standards and increasing the recognition of our craft in the aviation industry is fruitful. We would also like to wish you a great celebration in honoring the 4th of July. Please be safe and enjoy this great day in history- Happy Independence Day!
June 7, 2022 -- The AMFA Membership is the primary influence in allowing AMFA to be a major voice, raising aviation industry standards at both the regional and the major carriers and increasing the recognition of our craft. AMFA’s structure, as designed in the AMFA Constitution, empowers our membership to control the union and their own destiny. Unlike most unions, AMFA Members have the right to vote on all Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBAs), Letters of Agreement (LOAs), and elections for officers and representatives at both the National and Local levels.
May 6, 2022 -- As AMFA’s efforts to rightfully protect your work, enhance your ability to earn, and improve wages and benefits for our membership is having a powerful ripple effect on the rest of the industry. You and your voice are the backbone of the aviation maintenance industry. That’s truly the beauty of a structure where the membership has control of their own destiny. I am extremely honored to be your champion and confidante in helping your voice to be heard. Your unity in fighting battles and tackling obstacles over the last several turbulent years has resulted in you consistently staying on top.
April 7, 2022 -- March was a very successful and busy month for our membership and AMFA. As stated for many months AMFA will be growing our membership, footprint and visibility in 2022. AMFA will continue to be the voice of Mechanics and Related employees by leading aviation industry changes and taking proactive approach to protect your work, ability to earn, and improving wages and benefit. AMFA is the only union that can and will be that voice and is the only labor union that constitutionally limits itself to representing the craft or class of mechanics and Related Employees to avoid conflicts of interest.
March 12, 2022 -- As stated last month, AMFA aims to grow our membership, footprint, and visibility in 2022. There is an organic movement to be represented by a craft-specific, independent union who recognizes our responsibility, relevance, and professional skillset in the industry and fights for our best interests at our respective airlines. JetBlue Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and American Airlines are just a few of the mechanic groups who have joined in this movement and expressed their interest in AMFA for this very reason. AMFA. Current grassroots organizing efforts demonstrate the facts.
February 9, 2022 -- We are forging into 2022, setting goals for the Association and raising standards of and increasing the recognition of our craft in the aviation industry. Our Association is prepared for growth this year as hiring at all three carriers remains steadfast, and our example and successes are attracting mechanics and related employees from other carriers who are seeking our craft specific union as their bargaining representative. AMFA will be growing our membership, footprint, and visibility in 2022. Action speaks louder than words and leading by example attracts.
January 4, 2022 -- We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year with friends and family. We accomplished a lot in 2021 and persevered through many obstacles with our families and co-workers. Thank you all for your engagement and support throughout the year. As we forge into the 2022 New Year we will continue our responsibilities and mission to further raise the standards of aircraft maintenance and to increase the recognition and standards of living for our aircraft mechanics and related professionals.
December 7, 2021 -- We hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving with their friends and family, and we want to wish you a safe Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. As 2021 wraps up we look back on a year where we have endured tremendous instability in our industry and tackled an enormous amount of turbulence in our workplace while still performing our jobs safely and professionally. We want to express sincere appreciation for your engagement, dedication, and support throughout this last year. Aircraft mechanics and maintenance professionals have shown up and worked tirelessly to sustain effective maintenance operations and produce safe and reliable aircraft for our flight crews and the flying public.
November 2, 2021 -- I wish to express my heartfelt compassion for everyone who has been touched by the uncertainty in our industry during these unprecedented times. As we continue to navigate the COVID vaccine mandate at all three AMFA-represented carriers our primary focus remains to protect your collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) as well as your job and ability to earn.
October 8, 2021 -- We understand many of us are unnerved by the recent vaccination mandate, but we knew this day was possibly coming and have tried to prepare for it. Southwest Airlines Co. and Alaska Air Group Inc. both recently announced they are subject to legal obligation, as a federal contractor, to require their employees to submit to the “Federal Contactor Vaccination Requirement for all Employees.” The National Executive Council’s (NEC) primary focus is to protect our craft and the collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) we represent. While our carriers surge forward to implement the federal government contract mandate, a number of questions remain in regard to the impact and obligation of our members.
September 3, 2021 -- In the recent months, we have had numerous conversations system-wide revealing concerns regarding the rapid increase of commercial air traffic. These concerns include maintenance of service standards, limited on-the-job and equipment/tooling training, maintenance compliance, and pressure to take shortcuts while performing maintenance tasks. It is important to note that becoming a certified mechanic takes two years of school to pass a sophisticated FAA certification process and can take an additional five years to become proficient at the craft. This means that effectively replacing retired mechanics will take much longer than many carriers anticipate.
August 4, 2021 -- With the high demands of travel seen over these last months, the industry has been tested with transitioning to recovery efforts. As we navigate through the everchanging rehiring period, uptick in more flights per day, new training and understaffing in your workplace, we encourage you to perform your job in a professional, safe, and compliant manner. Our three represented carriers plan to hire many new AMTs, Appearance Techs, Maintenance Controllers, and Inspectors this year to meet the demands of aircraft in operations and future growth.
July 2, 2021 -- Throughout the month of June, AMFA National and Locals 14 and 32 officers and representatives continued to perform station visits at all represented carriers. With the high demands of travel seen over these last months, the industry has been tested with transitioning from cost saving practices focused on shedding and restructuring valuable frontline jobs and experienced workforce to now filling vacant positions and as well as staffing expansion within operations to meet the recovery demand for the 2 million passengers per day milestone on June 11, 2021, as reported by the TSA (current versus prior years). Our three represented carriers are planning on hiring new AMTs this year. As we navigate through the everchanging rehiring period, uptick in more flights per day, new training and understaffing in your workplace while more heightened stress, we encourage you to perform your job in a professional, safe, and compliant manner.
June 2, 2021 -- On May 24 we celebrated Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) Day, a special day to recognize the skilled men and women who maintain aircraft with knowledge, skill, and integrity. May 24 was chosen for AMT Day in honor of the Father of Aviation Maintenance – Charles E. Taylor – this year marking his 153th birthday. Everyone knows who the Wright brothers are, but not many know there was a third man who contributed to the first powered flight on December 17, 1903. Without Charles Taylor’s knowledge and skill, that airplane would never have gotten off the ground. Recognizing Charles E. Taylor for his impact on aviation allows us to remember how our craft began as well as our craft’s continued dedication to safety.
May 5, 2021 -- We are cautiously optimistic as we continue to see the number COVID-19 cases decline throughout the US, and we are encouraged to see positive trends in air travel. As flights and our workload schedules are becoming more and more packed, remember Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) work tirelessly to ensure the safety and security of the millions of air passengers each day.
April 5, 2021 -- We hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy as we continue to navigate through this COVID-19 pandemic. We are cautiously optimistic as we continue to see the number COVID-19 cases decline throughout the US. Now that vaccines are introduced and several therapeutics are available for treatment, this may instill more confidence in public air travel. We are encouraged as we are starting to see positive trends in air travel. On Sunday, March 21, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screened more than 1.5 million travelers in a single day — the highest traveler throughput in over a year. April 1, 2021, marked the 22th consecutive day that TSA checkpoint volume exceeded over 1 million passengers per day, a milestone also not observed since March 2020.
March 2, 2021 -- We hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy as we continue to navigate through this COVID-19 pandemic. We are cautiously optimistic as we continue to see cases decline throughout the United States. Despite the challenging time, our members are the most unified we have ever been as mechanics and related aviation professionals. We thank you for your perseverance and dedication in performing your duties and producing a safe, reliable aircraft. Our unity, especially during these times, is our strength.
February 2, 2021 -- The New Year is off to a very busy start around the Association with several new local officers being sworn into office in January: Mike Sanderson, Local 4 Vice President; Frank Logalbo, Local 4 Southwest Airlines (SWA) Airline Representative (ALR); Nic Kula, Local 14 President; Tommy Price, Local 14 Secretary; Cameron Lampley, Local 18 Secretary; and Pat Amore, Local 18 Safety & Standards Chairman. Thank you for stepping up in your new elected position. I would also like to thank the exiting officers -- Tom Hagan, Local 4 VP; Dan Burgess, Local 4 SWA ALR; Jason Munson, Local 14 President; Tom Nolan, Local 18 Secretary; and Maurice Thacker, Local 18 S&S Chairman -- for their commitment and leadership during their dedicated tenure.
January 5, 2021 -- Happy New Year! I think we’re reassessing the definition of “normal life” and what that actually means as well as what this new year will optimistically bring. We hope you and your family had a safe Christmas and New Year, while celebrating the best you could under the confines brought on by this invisible virus. We have all made great sacrifices and adjustments in our personal lives as well as in our workplaces during this last year. Your AMFA Officers and Representatives look forward to continuing to fight for your profession as your voice and confidante in representing you in 2021.
December 1, 2020 -- We hope you and your loved ones had a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving and we wish you great Christmas during this holiday season. As we navigate through these epic times, your AMFA Officers and Representatives continue to monitor the health and safety of our members, the operational activity pertaining to headcount reductions, as well as continuing to actively converse with all airlines on potential cost saving measures outside of our Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA).
November 3, 2020 -- We hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy while the world and our industry tackle this COVID-19 epidemic. As we navigate through these epic times, your AMFA Officers and Representatives continue to monitor the operational activity pertaining to headcount reductions as well as actively conversing with all airlines on potential cost saving measures outside of our Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA).
October2, 2020 -- September 2020 was another busy month for your AMFA Officers and Representatives as we continue to monitor the operational activity pertaining to headcount reductions while safeguarding AMFA protected work in this assaulted aviation industry.
September 2, 2020 -- The AMFA National Officer Election concluded on August 10, 2020, with 26.17% membership participation. I would like to sincerely thank all candidates as well as all who participated in this election process. Voting is one of the most important responsibilities of an AMFA member. Thank you to those passionate candidates who ran for office with a profound goal of being part of the solution and AMFA’s future. Congratulations to those who will be sworn into office on October 5, 2020. I sincerely encourage all who did not win their race to continue to stay engaged and actively influenceable.
August 10, 2020 -- In July 2020, your AMFA Officers were very busy monitoring the current state and operational activity pertaining to the moving target for possible headcount reductions or furloughs, Early-Out Program (EOP), Voluntary Separations Programs (VSP), Extended Emergency Time Off (EXTO), Emergency Time Off (ETO), or In-leu-Of-Furlough (ILOF) options and safeguarding AMFA protected work. For more carrier specific updates and further information regarding current status of these options at your respective carrier, please contact your Local Airline Representative. Be assured, we are adamantly fighting for you under the parameters of the CARES ACT.
July 7, 2020 -- I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July, which marks 244 years of independence for this great Nation we live in. Can you believe this wild year is half over? In June 2020 your AMFA Officers and Representatives were very busy trying to keep informed on the erratic operational activity at AMFA represented carriers pertaining to Early-outs, Voluntary Separations, Emergency Time Off, and AMFA protected work. Our technicians at all carriers are now in the phase of transiting from short-term storage to return to revenue service and increased flight schedules, thus our technicians’ workloads have increased.
June 4, 2020 -- In the month of May we celebrated Memorial Day to honor all those who gave their lives in active military service. Never forget their sacrifices, tell their stories, celebrate their legacies, and honor the fallen. God bless our loved ones.
May 4, 2020 -- The month of April was a whirlwind of changes for our nation. Despite the challenging time, our members are the most unified we have ever been as mechanics and related aviation professionals. We thank you for your perseverance and dedication in performing your duties and producing a safe, reliable aircraft.
April 2, 2020 - The month of March has been a whirlwind of changes for our nation. We now have positive cases of the COVID-19 amongst our membership and many remain in self-quarantine to help to prevent the spread of this virus. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who have contracted and who have been affected by COVID-19.
March 17, 2020 -- Reflecting back on 2019, we take great pride in our Association’s achievements and the many hurdles we successfully navigated during the year. We now face our first significant hurdle of 2020, which will affect the entire travel industry as well as the global economy. Throughout the month of February, airlines and their employees were under an enormous amount of pressure in the changing environment focusing on the safety of public health in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
February 17, 2020 -- I hope each of you had a happy and safe 2020 New Year’s celebration. Reflecting on back in 2019, we take great pride in our Association’s many hurdles and achievements, specifically in the arenas of concluding more than seven years of negotiations at Southwest Airlines with a solid contract, growth with the certification at Horizon Air and the single carrier status determination at Alaska Airlines, legislative successes, workforce development initiatives, and most importantly, continuing to raise the standards and recognition of our craft. We are forging into 2020 continuing where we left off, setting goals and furthering the Association and our craft in the industry.
December 31, 2019 -- Tis the season, I hope your Christmas was enjoyable with all your family and friends. I would like to shout out to all the AMFA members who worked Christmas Eve and Christmas Day – thank you for your dedication and contribution to making the 51 million travelers safe during one of the busiest travel seasons of the year. I wish each of you a happy and safe New Year!
December 6, 2019 -- We celebrated not one, but two holidays in the month of November -- Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving. These holidays go hand-in-hand as they are both focused on thankfulness and appreciation. As a Veteran, I want to thank all who have ever served for your service, your commitment, and your family’s sacrifice to this Great Nation. Our Nation’s soldiers serve every day to protect our country and its ideals. Additionally, I hope you all enjoyed time celebrating Thanksgiving with your family and friends. God Bless!
November 5, 2019 -- November 5, 2019 -- I hope everyone had a happy and safe Halloween with family and friends. The holiday season is just around the corner, with just 23 days to Thanksgiving, 50 days until Christmas, and 56 days until we ring in a New Year. On October 8, 2019, National Safety and Standards Director Scott King and I attended the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) public meeting where they solicited comments and suggestions from stakeholders on issues facing the agency in the administration of the whistleblower protection provisions under the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR21). OSHA is interested in obtaining information from the public on key issues facing the agency’s whistleblower program, and AMFA leaders had the opportunity to present feedback. For more details on AMFA’s presentation, please view the Aviation Industry Whistleblower Stakeholder Meeting report posted on the AMFA National Website.
October 10, 2019 -- September was an extremely busy month for AMFA across the system. This month we were proud to our new Horizon Air members in Seattle, Portland, Paine Field, Spokane, Redmond and Boise. It was a great privilege to welcome these new members face-to-face at all the stations, and we had the opportunity to answer many questions regarding the transition period. In the coming months, will be calling for nominations from your workgroup for airline specific representatives. Make sure you have a personal email address on file with AMFA so that you will receive election and referenda details from AMFA; voting materials will not be sent to your company email. Please monitor the Horizon Air News and Updates page of the AMFA National website for most up-to-date information for your group.
September 5, 2019 -- August was another busy month for AMFA. I want to celebrate the representation election that concluded on August 21, 2019, where the craft and class of mechanics and related employees of Horizon Air Industries, Inc. voted in AMFA as their collective bargaining agent. We wish to congratulate and welcome Horizon Air Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) to AMFA membership. AMFA National and Local 14 officers have hit the ground running during this transition period, visiting Horizon Air stations at Portland and Seattle last week. Thank you for your patience while we continue informational station visits to the remaining Horizon stations.
August 8, 2019 -- July was another busy month for AMFA at Alaska (AS) and Southwest Airlines (SWA), as well as the opening of another chapter at Horizon Air. AMFA filed authorization cards with the National Mediation Board (NMB) on behalf of the Mechanic and Related employees of Horizon Airlines and a representation election has been authorized. Voting ends at 2:00 PM ET on August 21, 2019, the day of the tally.
July 3, 2019 -- We ended the month of June with a lot of progress and accomplishments that we should all be proud of. We are closing chapters and opening new ones with the year half over.
June 10, 2019 -- We ended the month of May celebrating Memorial Day. I hope we all can remember those who gave their lives, never forget their sacrifices, tell their stories, celebrate their legacies, and honor the fallen. God bless our loved ones.
May 6, 2019 -- The Aerospace Maintenance Competition (AMC) was held on April 8-11, 2019, in Atlanta, GA. AMFA was once again a proud corporate sponsor of this event that promotes aircraft maintenance technicians (AMTs) and highlights the knowledge, skill, and integrity of our craft. There were 82 teams in this year’s competition, consisting of military, students, and airlines from around the world.
April 1, 2019 -- The National Executive Council (NEC) continues our efforts to achieve the best communication practices to reach our membership. Tools are in place for our members to acquire the latest news and updates regarding current events throughout the Association. In addition to our website and AMFA App push notification, we are using social media to increase visibility via Facebook and Twitter. The NEC also continues to conduct station and GMM visits throughout the system at both Alaska Airlines (AS) and Southwest Airlines (SWA) locations. Thank you for your continued support in this communication campaign.
March 8, 2019 -- On February 28, 2019, Southwest Airlines filed a federal lawsuit again five (5) AMFA representatives personally, AMFA legal counsel, and against AMFA. Though we do not see any basis to this suit, we must stress to you the law requires that both parties refrain from “self help” until released by the National Mediation Board from mediation and a thirty-day cooling off period has expired.
February 6, 2019 -- I want to encourage you to recognize the importance of the responsibilities and work you perform day to-day: increase awareness of performing your jobs safely; maintaining compliance; being aware of your surroundings; and above all, working safely side-by-side with your co-workers.
January 7, 2019 -- Can you believe it is 2019? I hope everyone had a great holiday season with family and friends. I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. AMFA has a lot of incredible items in the pipeline related to promoting and protecting the interests of our members, including raising the recognition of our members and our craft. I want to encourage you to recognize the importance of the responsibilities and work you perform day to-day: increase awareness of performing your jobs safely; being compliant; being aware of your surroundings; and above all, working together to make sure we all go home to our family in one piece each and every night.
November 1, 2018 -- Can you believe Christmas is just 54 days away and 2019 is just around the corner? October has again been a very busy month across the Association. I have looked back at all the station visits we have accomplished to date in 2018: 24 system-wide to visit with our Alaska Airlines membership, 13 system-wide to visit with our Southwest Airlines (SWA) membership, as well as multiple video conferences. Thank you to those who have helped in security escorts and acting as Driving Miss Daisy.
October 2, 2018 -- As cooler temperatures are imminent for most of us, we have officially hit fall season of 2018. September was another busy month as your officers and representatives were conducting referendums and surveys at both Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines. I am very proud of the record high participation rates achieved by our members on their respective referendums. By voting you have taken responsibility for your career and ensure your voice is heard. We are unifying more and more each day and vindicating why you should be respected for the work we perform each and every day.
August 31, 2018 -- I hope your summer has been safe and enjoyable. We have had a productive and engaging year thus far and I can’t believe we will soon be entering fall of 2018. In August your officers and representatives were very busy conducting a membership survey following the rejected tentative agreement (TA) at Alaska Airlines (ASA), as well as a 13 station roadshow and kicking off a TA Ratification Referendum at Southwest Airlines (SWA).
August 1, 2018 -- In July 2018 your officers and representatives were very busy at both Alaska Airlines (ASA) and Southwest Airlines (SWA). On July 19, 2018, 83.57% of the AMFA–ASA membership voted overwhelmingly to reject the AMFA-ASA and Virgin America (VX) Transition and Seniority Integration Agreements Package. Thank you for recognizing the importance of your careers; kudos to your unity and tremendous involvement in voicing your position.
July 5, 2018 -- I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July, which marked 242 years of independence for this great Nation we live in. Can you believe this year is half over? In June 2018 your AMFA Officers were very busy and productive at both Alaska Airlines (ASA) and Southwest Airlines (SWA).
May 7, 2018 -- During these last weeks we continue to unite in common goals. I would like to extend deep gratitude to all Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) industry-wide who are working diligently to accomplish Emergency Airworthiness Directive blade inspections of their respective carrier’s fleet in response to the April 17 incident on Southwest Airlines (SWA) Flight #1380. I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize the leadership displayed by SWA Philadelphia AMT Domenic Bufalini.
April 2, 2018 -- AMFA and Alaska Airlines met in Anchorage, AK on March 20-21 to discuss a Virgin America – Alaska Airlines Transition Agreement. The Company advised us during our first two negotiation sessions that there would be zero enhancements to existing collective bargaining agreements (CBA) as part of any work group’s transition agreement; however, the Flight Attendants gained multiple enhancements in their recent agreement. We, therefore, delivered a reasonable Transition Agreement proposal, which mirrored the enhancements received by the Flight Attendants. Surprisingly, our negotiation session was cut short as Alaska refused to contribute a counterproposal and provide you similar enhancements like those provided to the Flight Attendants. This speaks volumes as to how the Company views our group.
February 28, 2018 -- There were no meeting and or discussions held in regards to the transition and integration of the AMFA–Alaska Airlines (ASA) and Virgin America (VX) work groups during the month of February. AMFA and ASA will meet in Anchorage, AK on March 20-22, 2018, to continue VX –ASA Transition Agreement discussions.
January 31, 2018 -- We started off 2018 right away with AMFA and Alaska Airlines meeting in Dallas, Texas on January 2-3 to discuss a Virgin America (VX) – Alaska Airlines (ASA) Transition Agreement. Our Committee expressed the need to make every effort outside of arbitration to resolve three contractual items.
January 2, 2018 -- I hope all of you had a great Christmas and New Year’s holiday. I am very optimistic 2018 will be a great year for all of us. December was very busy for your National Executive Council (NEC) as we worked on a variety of issues including the National Budget for 2018, Safety and Compliance Initiative, and conducting the Alternate AMFA-Southwest Airlines (SWA) Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Representative Election and Annual National Survey. We also spent time looking ahead and compiling our goals and objectives for the New Year.
November 1, 2017 -- AMFA and Alaska Airlines (ASA) conducted the Annual Wage Review in accordance the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) on October 10, 2017. For more details, please visit the ASA Annual Wage Review Discussions - First Year Review update posted on the National website.
September 30, 2017 -- Hurricanes Harvey and Irma have affected several members of Local 18 and their families in southeastern Texas and Florida. A GoFundMe page has been established to help ease the burden while they recover from the catastrophic damage: https://www.gofundme.com/amfa-18-hurricane-benefit. Thank you to all who have already contributed. If you have not already done so, please consider contributing what you can. Every penny counts.
August 31, 2017 -- Our thoughts and prayers go out to our members and their families in Houston, TX and surrounding areas who are affected by the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Harvey. A Go Fund Me account has been established to help members of Local 18 who are directly affected by this event at https://www.gofundme.com/amfa-18-hurricane-benefit. Our thoughts and prayers also go out to the families of TWU Local 555, TWU Local 556, SWAPA, and all the other family and friends who have been impacted. You are not alone! We will keep you up to date on any further developments.
July 31, 2017 -- The NEC would like to thank our lobbying firm, Commonwealth Strategic Partners, and Justin Madden, AMFA Legislative Affairs Director for their continued proactive approach on the legislative front. Mr. Madden reports, “This month has been very active as the FAA Reauthorization Bill moves separately through the House and the Senate Committee process.
June 28, 2017 -- We are pleased to announce that the AMFA National Office has been relocated to 7853 East Arapahoe Court, Suite 1100, Centennial, CO 80112. The phone and fax numbers will remain the same. The move was completed this past week, and we are up and running and fully operational.
May 31, 2017 -- The National Executive Council (NEC) continues our efforts to achieve the best communication practices to reach you. Communication has been a top priority for the past several months, and a system-wide quest to update member contact information at both the Local and National levels is ongoing. The tools are in place for our members to acquire updates and receive push notifications regarding current events throughout the Association. We are also using social media to increase visibility via Facebook-live and Twitter. Negotiation updates and other news are archived on the carrier specific pages of the National website at www.amfanational.org.
May 25, 2017 -- As the transition and integration process begins for Alaska Airlines and Virgin America, and Aircraft Maintenance Technician negotiations continue at Southwest Airlines, National Director Bret Oestreich has taken this opportunity to send the membership of AMFA this video update.
May 1, 2017 -- The National Executive Council (NEC) continues our efforts to achieve the best communication practices to reach you. Communication has been a top priority for the past several months, and a system-wide quest to update member contact information at both the Local and National levels is ongoing. The tools are in place for our members to acquire updates and push notifications regarding current events throughout the Association. We are also using social media to increase visibility via Facebook-live and Twitter. Negotiation updates and other news are archived on the carrier specific pages of the National website.
March 31, 2017 -- The National Executive Council (NEC) has continued our efforts to achieve the best communication practices to reach you. Communication has been a top priority for the past several months, and a system-wide quest to update member contact information at both the Local and National levels is ongoing. The tools are in place for our members to acquire updates and notifications regarding current events throughout the Association. We are also using social media to increase visibility via Facebook and Twitter.
February 28, 2017 -- Enhancing communication has been a top priority for the National Executive Council (NEC) since taking office this past October. We have done a system-wide quest to update member contact information at both the Local and National levels. We are very pleased with the daily increase in the number of registrations with the National Website, AMFA App downloads, and the social media invitation acceptances. In our collaborative efforts we have nearly doubled contact information in just three months.
January 31, 2017 -- We kicked off the New Year with a Joint Advisory Council Meeting and National Executive Council Meeting in Phoenix, AZ where we discussed a variety of issues including the budget for 2017, the Safety Initiative, policies, the Aircraft Engineers International Annual Congress for 2016, and our ongoing efforts to gather current member contact information at both the local and National levels. We also discussed the status of negotiations at both Southwest and Alaska Airlines.
December 30, 2016 -- The last month of 2016 started off with a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting. We worked on a variety of issues including the National Budget for 2017, Safety Initiative, Southwest Airlines (SWA) Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Representative concerns, as well as updating the SWA ASAP MOU. We also discussed the Aircraft Engineers International (AEI) Annual Congress for 2017, and how we are working collectively with AEI to promote and protect the interests of Aircraft Maintenance Technicians worldwide.
November 30, 2016 -- The holiday season is now upon us. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have to work undesirable shifts and spend time away from family and friends during the holidays. We must be aware that the holidays may be a time of joy, but they are not always a time of peace. Balancing your family’s expectations with work commitments and social obligations can make this the most stressful time of the year. At the job, the stress of a quick fix or making a schedule may sometimes be stressed more than compliance or you may be working shorthanded as manning levels may be lower due to vacations and/or illness.
October 31, 2016 -- On October 3, 2016, at AMFA National Headquarters, the newly elected National Executive Council (NEC) was sworn in to office by Region I Director, Earl Clark. The NEC’s first order of business was to appoint Mike Nelson as the Interim Region II Director, in accordance with the AMFA Constitution, until a special election can be completed. During the week of October 3–7, the NEC transition and turnover took place. Both the former and incumbent NEC covered most of the documents, procedures, vendors, payroll, insurance, leases, computers, server, and budgets of the Association as well as the current status of events for a productive transition and turnover.
September 30, 2016 -- On September 13, 2016, the Association held a Joint Advisory Council (JAC) meeting in Nashville, Tennessee where National Officers, Local Presidents, and an Airline Representative from Alaska Airlines met to discuss our agenda items. We addressed an array of issues including the Aircraft Accident Investigation Team Guidelines, National Officer transition, the GrievTrac database, and carrier contract negotiations to name a few.
August 31, 2016 -- On August 3-4, 2016, Alaska Airlines contract negotiations continued in Santa Rosa, CA where the Company responded to our proposals for medical benefits and retirement, both the defined benefit (pension) and the defined contribution (401k) plans. The Committee’s full update has been posted to the National Website for your review. The committees also met for a second August session on August 29–31, 2016, and the Company gave us a “comprehensive proposal” that covered all open items, including the economic components of the contract.
July 29, 2016 -- IT WAS A HOT DAY IN DALLAS AND AMFA TURNED UP THE HEAT on Southwest Airlines (SWA)! Almost 300 AMFA members, SWAPA Pilots, and SWA TWU Flight Attendants gathered to picket and bring attention to the dismal state of the ongoing contract negotiations for all three labor groups.
June 30, 2016 -- May 31 to June 2, 2016, Alaska Airlines contract negotiations continued near San Jose, California, where we worked on Scope, Status, and Job Security. Due to the vital importance of these matters in our contract, this session became quite contentious as we debated our perspectives on the issues within these articles. The Committee’s full update has been posted to the National Website. We are also meeting this week, June 28 to June 30, 2016, to start preliminary discussions on the topics of medical benefits and retirement.
May 31, 2016 -- During the first week of May we held our National Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana. Delegates debated member submitted proposed amendments to the AMFA Constitution and approved a total of sixteen (16) proposals that will now be sent to the membership for consideration and ratification. The delegates also submitted their Local’s nominees for the National Officer election, which will take place this summer. Watch your mail closely for important information regarding both votes, and please be sure to participate.
April 29, 2016 -- On April 4, 2016, Alaska Airlines announced that it is acquiring Virgin America Airlines. The deal still needs regulatory and shareholder approval before proceeding. Upon gaining these approvals, the process of integrating the labor groups begins. As outlined previously, the Virgin America Technicians are nonunion and the Alaska employees are covered by their collective bargaining agreement, and the groups will continue to work separately until operations are integrated into a single entity, which isn’t expected to happen until the 1st quarter of 2018.
This month we made additional progress with our legislative efforts on the FAA Reauthorization Bill. The U.S. Senate included our language for greater oversight and accountability for foreign repair station employees. We have been advocating for equal standards for mandatory pre-employment criminal background investigations and a standardized drug and alcohol testing protocol for many years to help close this glaring safety gap with our foreign counterparts. Other aspects of the Bill are still being worked through in committee, but we fully anticipate that our proposed language will be included in the final version.
This month we continued our mediated contract negotiations in two sessions for the Southwest Airlines (SWA) Aircraft Maintenance Technician’s contract in Dallas, Texas. Our Committee made progress on several issues including technician staffing when opening new maintenance stations; however, we came to a roadblock when the Company once again advanced the topics of adjusting our paid rest provisions and showed an unwillingness to equally apply the provisions of bereavement leave for members on 8-hour shifts. The Committee’s full update has been posted on the AMFA National website.
The first week of the month we continued our mediated contract negotiations for the Southwest Airlines (SWA) Aircraft Maintenance Technician’s contract in Washington, D.C. We successfully Tentatively Agreed (TA) on two articles: Article 21: Grievance Procedures and Article 22: Arbitration. It was good to see progress finally being made, and we have two sessions scheduled for the month of February in Dallas, Texas. The Committee’s full update has been posted on the AMFA National website.
I wish each of you a Happy and Safe New Year! This month began with AMFA entering our first session of mediated contract negotiations for the Southwest Airlines (SWA) Aircraft Maintenance Technician’s contract. This session was our first opportunity to get to work with our mediator managing the process.
On November 4, 2015, a Celebration of Life was held for AMFA founder and former National Director O.V. Delle-Femine near the National office in Colorado. Many current and former national officers, local officers, colleagues, and friends gathered to share stories and pictures of Dell’s life, his life’s work, and how he profoundly impacted our Association and our craft. It was abundantly clear that he influenced an entire industry and many people’s lives as he worked tirelessly to advocate for those in our profession. Dell was a man of great character and will be deeply missed.
On October 6, 2015, we conducted our Article 23, Par. R, Annual Wage Review at Alaska Airlines (ASA). This year’s wage review was the last wage review during the duration of our current Agreement, which becomes amendable in October 2016. In accordance with the terms of the review process, our pay increase this October was 1.5%, which went into effect on October 17, 2015. Please read the Committee’s update on our website for more details. There has been no follow-up from Alaska Airlines regarding the letter they had sent concerning discussions for a possible contract extension of the current Agreement, and we have filed our Section 6 Notice informing the Company that we intend to initiate full contract negotiations.
On Wednesday, September 2, 2015, we held a Joint Advisory Council Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. The National Executive Council, all Local Presidents, Airline Representatives from both Alaska and Southwest Airlines, and several member observers attended to discuss Association issues. Agenda items included an array of topics including legislative priorities, contract negotiations, grievance database software opportunities, carrier specific concerns, and the upcoming National Convention next spring. Please speak with your local representatives for more information.
This month at Alaska Airlines the Contract Proposal Prioritization Survey closed on August 17, 2015, and the results have been delivered to our Negotiation Committee. Additionally, the Company presented the Airline Representatives with a formal notice that they would like to, “…consider the possibility of opening discussions of an extension of the current agreement.” I will keep you updated on developments in this regard. The contract becomes amendable on October 17, 2016, and contains provisions for initiating negotiations one-year prior to the amendable date. Therefore, currently we still plan to declare our intention for presenting openers in October.
As you are hopefully aware, on July 6, 2015, we filed for mediation for the Southwest Airlines (SWA) Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) negotiations. After nearly three years of negotiations spent bargaining with a Company that is enjoying unprecedented profits yet advancing proposals that seek to mirror the concessionary work rules implemented at carriers that restructured in bankruptcy, your Negotiating Committee determined that it was time to request the assistance of the National Mediation Board (NMB). Our expectation is that the NMB’s involvement, with the guidance of a senior mediator in the process, will help us move toward a fair and equitable agreement.
All of the Local Presidents, Assistant National Director, Region I Director and Co-Chairman of the Southwest Airlines (SWA) Negotiating Committee, and I met this month in Dallas, Texas to discuss, among other things, the growing frustration in regard to the ongoing SWA Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) negotiations and SWA’s general attitude toward our workgroups. We are angry at the Company’s willingness to violate our contract forcing us to rigorously defend the agreement in arbitration. We are unanimous in our resolve to support our Negotiating Committee and our Airline Representatives as they continue our negotiations and enforce our collective bargaining agreement. I wrote a letter to Mr. Gary Kelly, SWA President and CEO, expressing our discontentment and requested that he, and other appropriate Company leadership, engage in our negotiations and help facilitate a successful resolution.
It was with great sadness that we announced this month the passing of our founder and former National Director O.V. Delle-Femine, affectionately known as “Dell.” Over 50 years ago the vision of a craft specific union for Aircraft Maintenance Technicians and Related employees became a reality, due in large part to Dell. He worked tirelessly to create AMFA and to promote and defend the craft. Dell succumbed to illness on May 7, 2015, after putting up the toughest fight of his life. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and supporters during this difficult time. A special edition of the Grapevine was mailed to each member’s home to commemorate and honor Dell’s long commitment to our craft and its members.
As a follow up to last month’s notice that we would have to find a new lobbying firm in Washington D.C. I would like to announce that we were successful in our search and have retained the firm of Commonwealth Strategic Partners, LLC. Information about the firm can be found on their website at (http://commonwealthstrategic.com/ ). We have begun the process of briefing them on our legislative initiatives and are looking forward to being very busy with our highest legislative priority: the FAA Reauthorization Bill.
On March 3-4, 2015, the Southwest Airlines (SWA) Facility Maintenance Technician (FMT) negotiations continued, and on March 11, 2015, the Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) negotiations also continued in Dallas, Texas. The negotiation updates for both groups have been posted to the AMFA National Website. The next scheduled session for the FMTs is April 21-22, 2015, and the AMTs is April 23, 2015. It is important to point out that during the AMT negotiations our Committee presented the Company a “Comprehensive Proposal” that contains the union’s proposal on all open items.
This month the National Secretary/Treasurer and I traveled to Washington, D.C. for our first face-to-face meetings with our new our lobbyist from The Keelen Group, Mr. Frank McCarthy. Mr. McCarthy scheduled a very active two days of meetings for us with various Congressmen and their senior staff that hold influential positions on Aviation and Transportation Subcommittees. Mr. McCarthy coordinated our visit with leadership from the Southwest Airline Pilots Association (SWAPA): President Paul Jackson and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Chip Hancock. We attended our meetings with the Congressmen (ten meetings over a two-day period) as aircraft maintenance technicians and pilots working jointly to advocate for legislation in the upcoming FAA Reauthorization Bill that will further our members’ interests and help protect our members’ careers in future regulations.
The New Year is off to a very busy start around the Association, we had three new local presidents sworn into office in January: Dan Burgess at Local 4, Dale Dixon at Local 11, and Frank Amore at Local 32. Congratulations to our new local presidents and a genuine thank you to Jim Kinnerk, Lyndon Heffernan, and Eric Hambacher for their past service supporting their local members.
The last month of the year started off with the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the National Office in Denver, Colorado. We worked on a variety of issues including the National Budget for 2015, the Safety Initiative, and concerns presented from the Southwest Airlines (SWA) Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Representative. Another important topic of discussion was the Aircraft Engineers International (AEI) Annual Congress for 2015. Previously, the AEI Delegates have expressed an interest in requesting AMFA to host the Annual Congress. At the recent Congress I responded to the delegates that I would present the idea to the NEC for consideration, and during our meeting in Denver the NEC concluded that we would be honored to host the AEI Annual Congress for 2015 in Seattle, Washington next fall.
During the first week of November Tim Cullen, Local 14 President and Aircraft Engineers International (AEI) – Secretary of The Americas, and I attended AEI’s 42nd Annual Congress in Paris, France. This year’s Congress was well attended; there were thirty-three delegates from seventeen different countries representing fourteen Aircraft Maintenance Technician/Engineer unions. As the Australian affiliate put it best, “We Are the Guardians of Air Safety,” and this year’s Congress focused primarily on the role of the AMT and the array of challenges we face as we do our jobs in a stressful environment. Universally AMTs are facing the same obstacles wherever you look. Issues such as unrealistic work package schedules, inadequate staffing, airlines attempting to push more of our work to vendors or to the unlicensed workforce are not unique to any particular sector. We need to be aware of the implications of these schemes and work with other organizations that share our craft focused attention to these issues.
On October 1, 2014, the National Executive Council met with the Vice Presidents of Maintenance and Safety from both Alaska and Southwest Airlines in San Diego, CA regarding our Safety Initiative. We shared our PowerPoint presentation and discussed an array of safety concerns that we both share. We agreed to work together in our mutual commitment to providing a safe work area and product, and to step up communications on safety related issues. Additionally, Safety & Standards Director David Brooks will be reaching out to both carriers to arrange meetings in the near future to further our work on the concept of joint safety working groups designed to identify and correct safety issues for our members. You should expect to hear more regarding the Safety Initiative as we move forward.
This month started off with the Southwest Airlines (SWA) Facility Maintenance Technician (FMT) negotiations in Dallas, Texas. I was able to attend this session and appreciate all of the work the committees have done in these negotiations. During the following FMT session later in the month, the Company presented our Committee with a bundled proposal that addressed multiple articles; our Committee is crafting a comprehensive response to their proposal. Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) negotiations also continued this month and the negotiation updates (video and written) for all sessions have been posted to the AMFA National Website.
As a continuation of the National Executive Council’s (NEC) Safety Initiative in highlighting the vital role we all play in aviation safety, I would like to call your attention to the “Compliance Reminders” that are published each month by Safety and Standards Director David Brooks. The Compliance Reminders are posted to the National Website, under the Safety and Standards Page, and touch on a different subject each posting. They are intended to draw your attention to areas where there has been an identified risk, or opportunity for mishaps, and serve as a tool to aid in prevention.
As mentioned in last month’s update, the National Executive Council (NEC) is pursuing a Safety Initiative to remind our members of the vital role we all play in aviation safety, and why it is imperative we remain compliant as we perform our jobs. As part of this initiative, the July issue of “The Grapevine,” which you should have already received in the mail, was dedicated to safety and compliance.
The first part of June the National Executive Council (NEC) met at our National Office in Denver,
Colorado to work on our ongoing docket of items. In addition to our continued agenda, we discussed
our concerns regarding an array of safety-related matters that need to be addressed.
The first week of May we held local officer training for the presidents, vice-presidents, secretaries and treasurers at the national office in Denver. I facilitated the training for the presidents and vice-presidents and Justin Madden, National Secretary/Treasurer facilitated the training for the secretaries and treasurers. In the class I conducted we covered an array of topics including parliamentary procedures, duty of fair representation, the local’s grievance committee’s structure and function then concluded with a review of the professional standards program. For the treasurers Mr. Madden covered the use of Excel and QuickBooks software and financial record keeping. For the secretaries he covered the UnionWare member database system, conducting local elections with an emphasis on electronic voting methods and highlighted record retention requirements.
April started off with National Secretary/Treasurer Justin Madden, Region I Director Earl Clark, and I travelling to Washington DC to meet with our legislative firm. We met with Nile Elam, Lobbyit.com primary lobbyist to review progress on our legislative initiatives and determine direction on future efforts. Nile had scheduled a full day of meetings for us with members of both the House and Senate on April 9, 2014. The meetings were very successful; please click here to read an article about these meetings on the AMFA National Website.
March continued our very busy start of the year; the first week National Safety & Standards Director David Brooks and I attended the FAA ASAP Information Sharing meeting in Seattle, WA. The FAA holds two of these meeting per year for participants in the various ASAP programs to share de-identified information from events that have been submitted and resulted in educational opportunities to advance aviation safety. The FAA reiterated their commitment to the non-punitive aspect of the program. AMFA’s Alaska (ASA) and Southwest (SWA) ASAP Representatives also attended the 3-day meeting.
The first week of February 2014 the Association held its Joint Advisory Council (JAC) meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada. The JAC is comprised of the National Executive Council, all Local Presidents, and one Airline Representative from each carrier. We met to discuss an array of issues important to our membership ranging from contract negotiations to leveraging new technology that may enhance participation at local membership meetings, and many other relevant topics.
January started right off with the negotiations resuming at Southwest Airlines (SWA) for the Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMT) and the following week with the Facility Maintenance Technicians. Updates have been posted for both groups and additional dates are scheduled in February. The next session for the AMT negotiations is scheduled for the week of February 10; please pay particular attention to the next update as our Committee plans to make sure the record is straight as it pertains to the status of our ongoing negotiations.
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Page Last Updated: Mar 01, 2024 (07:12:00)
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