December 31, 2019
Dear Members:
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!
Reflecting on 2019, we take great pride in our many hurdles and achievements this last year, 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 raising the standards and recognition of the craft. We are forging into the new year continuing where we left off, setting goals and furthering the Association and our craft in the industry.
On behalf of the leaders of AMFA, I would like to welcome the Airbus Maintenance Technician and Related of Alaska Airlines to the Association. On December 18th, the National Mediation Board issued single carrier status determination, thus certifying AMFA as the sole representative for Maintenance Technician and Related employees at Alaska Airlines. AMFA representatives will be performing station visits January 8-20 to welcome new members to AMFA and to answer questions. Stations to be visited are: SFO, JFK, LAX, SAN, LAS, PDX, and SEA. Please monitor the Alaska Airlines News and Updates page of the AMFA National website for further details.
Local 14 will be conducting elections for Horizon Air airline specific representatives in January 2020. Make sure you have a personal email address on file with AMFA so that you will receive voting details expediently 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.
AMFA and Southwest Airlines are currently in the process of updating the SWA ASAP MOU; the FAA has extended the current MOU and we will provide more details when they come available. We want to take this opportunity to remind you to always be aware of your surroundings while performing your duties.
The AMFA National Convention convenes on May, 4, 2020, and each Local has been busy preparing for the big event. Local Delegate elections are either currently underway or have recently concluded. Each Local is also responsible for collecting Constitution Amendment Proposal Forms from their respective members and then submitting them to the Rules Committee in January, 2020; therefore, it is important to check with your Local to confirm their deadline to submit proposals. Additionally, because the Constitution allows each Local to submit only one nominee per National Office to the Convention, Locals who receive more than one name for any given position will need to conduct a runoff election.
Reminder to All Members: The FAA Hotline reporting system may be utilized to report concerns of aviation safety: https://hotline.faa.gov. We must realize our grave responsibility as FAA certified airman to exercise our judgement on the airworthiness of aircraft and equipment. We, therefore, pledge unyielding adherence to these precepts for the advancement of public safety of aviation and for the dignity for our craft.
The NEC continues to strive for the best communication practices to reach our membership. Tools are in place for our members to acquire news and updates regarding current events throughout the Association via the National website, AMFA App, and social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Thank you for your continued support in this membership outreach and communication campaign. We will also continue to conduct station and GMM visits system-wide.
As always, I ask you please be safe and to stay engaged with your union and officers. For more carrier specific updates and further information regarding AMFA and the airline industry, please visit the AMFA National Website at www.amfanational.org. Our most determined efforts will only succeed with your continued support and participation – please stay informed.
Sincerely,
Bret Oestreich
National Director