October 21, 2025
Participants for AMFA
Tony Christner – Airline Representative
Lucas Middlebrook – Legal Counsel
Peter Manikowski – Economist
Participants for Sun Country Airlines
Brian Scudds – Sr. Manager Labor Relations
Jacki Thompson – Legal Counsel
Scott Bjergo – Director of Outstation Maintenance
Roy Fan – Director FP&A
The AMFA-SCA Negotiating Committee (“Committee”) is providing this update to the membership at Sun Country Airlines (“Sun Country”). This is the only official source of negotiating communications by the Committee.
The Parties met in Chicago on October 7-8 for another bargaining session. This was not a mediated bargaining session because the NMB Mediator is prohibited from working during the continued federal government shutdown.
Following from the session the week prior during which the Parties TA’d the Scope Article, AMFA was optimistic and prepared to continue the momentum. On Day 1, the Company began by presenting its Economic Term Sheet. The Company’s proposal included no additional money on the wage scales, some movement on how Leads are compensated, and other minor moves. The Company increased its one-time longevity bonus that would affect approximately 60 of you who are on the AMT wage scale for eight or more years. After years of saying no, the Company did agree to certain standard union representation and check-off provisions. While this long overdue movement did clear off some items, the Company’s Economic Term Sheet response was again unremarkable for wages or other economic items.
That afternoon, the Parties reached a TA on Article 3 – Status. This article deals with merger and successor airline provisions in the event the Company’s ownership changes or Sun Country acquires another carrier. We appreciated the Company’s cooperation and discussion to make this TA happen.
AMFA then passed its Economic Term Sheet counterproposal, which sought to make further strides on Lead and Principle Maintenance Planner compensation. AMFA remained firm on the other wage proposals citing attrition and the need for a strong wage package for your consideration.
On Day 2, the Company made another term-sheet proposal that only found minor alignment on AMFA’s proposal regarding AST Lead premiums. Unfortunately, there were no other improvements to the Company’s offer.
AMFA then prepared and presented another economic term-sheet proposal, did some clean-up on the definitions of certain pay; moved on one economic item, and made minor movement on how long the Company would have to phase out part-time AMTs following ratification of a CBA. The Parties are aligned that the part-time AMTs would become full-time or take another position at Sun Country after the date (still being negotiated).
The session then concluded.
Given the ongoing government shutdown and the fact that our NMB mediator cannot work, the Parties see it as potentially most useful to continue negotiations when the mediator can administer the sessions. Therefore, there are no dates presently scheduled, but some dates are “penciled” awaiting return of the NMB mediator.
We remain unimpressed by the Company’s unwillingness to materially improve its wage and other benefit terms. It is significantly past time for Sun Country executives to pull their collective heads out of the sand, and engage with these negotiations so your hard work is properly rewarded with satisfactory benefits and wages commensurate with the U.S. AMT and related market in 2025. As referenced in our last update, the utter failure of the decision makers at Sun Country to properly engage with these negotiations, especially given the length of bargaining, hamstrings the Company’s negotiators. In addition, the failure of Sun Country to bring executives to the table who have the proper authority to make difficult bargaining decisions at this stage of negotiation is a slap in the face to all of you who work tirelessly to keep Sun Country’s fleet in the sky. Sun Country, and specifically its absentee executives, must do better.
Your AMFA Committee greatly appreciates the continued messages in support of our work at the table on your behalf. We also appreciate the outreach regarding your willingness to serve on the Strike Preparation Committee (SPC) and will continue to update you on the progress and planning of the SPC.
If you have any questions related to negotiations, please reach out to your ALR, Tony Christner.
Remember - stay engaged, remain informed, and continue to support the Negotiating Committee. Our solidarity will produce a CBA that your hard work has earned.
Fraternally,
Your AMFA-SCA Negotiating Committee
