To:
Re:
Date: |
AMFA Locals and Members
National President’s Monthly Update for May 2022
June 7, 2022 |
Dear Members:
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.
AMFA is the advocator and voice for our craft and our profession. Tools are in place for our members to acquire Association and industry related updates via the National website, AMFA App, social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, and the AMFA Insider Podcast. Thank you for your continued support in this membership outreach and communication campaign. We also continue to conduct station and GMM visits system-wide.
AMFA National officers are still conducting station visits across the system to educate the membership about AMFA’s mission and about the important role of AMFA PAC, the first and only political action committee (PAC) representing aircraft technicians and related issues. Please visit the Government Affairs Updates page of the AMFA National Website for further details.
AMFA–Alaska Airlines (AS) Airline Representatives (ALRs) continue working with the Company on the Roster Apps issues, and Alaska Section 6 negotiations are scheduled for October 2022. Local 32 and Local 14 proposal committees will meet first weeks of June to catalog and compile the proposals submitted to the locals to prepare for the contract proposal prioritization survey process. AS continues to hire during this impending shortage of technicians throughout the industry. Most stations are working shorthanded as the Company continues filling positions with technicians to achieve adequate staffing levels across the system; this has been extremely difficult. Please welcome this next generation of technicians -- and future generation of AMFA leaders -- into our workplaces and help them get established as engaged members of AMFA.
The AMFA-Horizon Air (QX) membership has ratified the tentative agreement (TA) #2. I would like to congratulate the AMFA members voted in this process. This agreement is not only industry-leading, it is an industry changing agreement for the regional carriers. This agreement has significant pay increases over the two-year duration, with negotiation openers in 18 months, industry-leading license premiums, industry-leading shortened pay progression scale, and ratification payout on June 15, 2022, that is equal to retroactive pay to January 28, 2022. The membership’s loud voice was heard across the industry when the referendum was ratified on May 10,2022. Please visit the Horizon Air page of the AMFA National Website for further details.
Southwest Airlines (SWA) continues to hire during this impending shortage of technicians throughout the industry, and filling these positions to achieve adequate staffing levels across the system has proven to be extremely difficult. We have new hires at most SWA stations now. Please welcome the next generation of technicians – and future generation of AMFA leaders -- into our workplaces and help them get established as engaged members of AMFA.
AMFA-SWA Appearance Technicians (AAT) extension talks resulting in achieving a tentative agreement on a contract extension LOA. This LOA will give pay increases to all scales with 6.25% snap-up minimum, an efficiency bonus to members within the middle of the pay scale to top of scale, and a shortened pay progression scale. The Company will hear the membership’s voice when the referendum is tallied on July 1, 2022. Any eligible voter who has not received their personalized voting instructions should contact the Director of Administration at elections@amfanatl.org. Please visit the Southwest Airlines page of the AMFA National website for further details. Additionally, please do not hesitate to contact your ALR with any questions or to clarify SWA propaganda.
The AMFA-SWA Facilities Maintenance Technicians (FMT) Negotiating Committee met on May 17-18 to review the survey report on the ranked proposals submitted by FMT membership and to prepare openers. Section 6 negotiations will start June 21-23 in Dallas, TX.
As we have said since the beginning of the year, we will be expanding AMFA’s footprint and growing our membership in 2022. We currently are proud to share the National Mediation Board (NMB) authorized a representation election for the technician and related class and craft at Sun Country Airlines and the tally will be on June 8, 2022. A Transition Committee is in place and is ready to start representing our new membership day one. For further information , please visit the AMFA at Sun Country Airlines page.
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. I ask you to please continue to be vigilant and to stay engaged with your union and officers. In doing so, monitor your respective carrier page of the AMFA National website for further airline specific details: Alaska Airlines Updates, Horizon Air Updates, Southwest Airlines Updates. For further information regarding AMFA and the airline industry, please visit your local website and/or the AMFA National Website at www.amfanational.org.
Our most determined efforts will only succeed with your support and participation – please stay engaged and informed.
Sincerely,
Bret Oestreich
National President