For Immediate Release

AMFA and Southwest Airlines Reach a Tentative Agreement For Facility Maintenance Technicians

CENTENNIAL, Colo. – January 13, 2023 – After almost six months of negotiations, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) and Southwest Airlines (SWA) announced a Tentative Agreement (TA) on a proposed contract for the airline’s Facility Maintenance Technicians (FMT). "This agreement is warranted after these employees faced extensive pressure, sacrifice, and workload to safely maintain company facilities across the country before and during the COVID pandemic. These wage and benefit improvements for this group reflect the importance of these skilled professionals in keeping SWA facilities operations up and running efficiently,” said AMFA National President Bret Oestreich.

This TA offers significant pay increases on the average all-in Top of Scale (TOS) of 25.03% snap over the five-year duration, amendable on November 16, 2027, 12 month early opener, increased license premiums, increased flexible scheduling, shortened pay progression scale by 3 years, 3.0 % in down years, and formula ratification bonus by years of service which on average would be more than full retro payment.

“The Negotiating Committee wants to express our appreciation to the SWA Facilities Maintenance Technicians that participated in the bargaining process. Our priorities are to raise the industry standards, increase recognition, protect our current and future members’ work, advocate innovative industry-leading wages, increase skill premiums and enhance benefits. Now the membership’s voice will be heard in a ratification vote in the coming weeks,” said Oestreich. The Committee would like to thank the negotiators from both sides of the table for their professionalism, which has produced a TA for the FMT group in less than six (6) months from the commencement of the first bargaining session. 

“This is a step in the right direction in respecting and recognizing the importance and relevance of our technician workgroups, thus emphasizing and advocating the importance of taking care of our skilled members,” said Oestreich.

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The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association is a craft-oriented, independent aviation union. AMFA represents licensed and unlicensed technicians and related employees actively involved in the aviation industry. These technicians and related employees work directly on aircraft and/or components, support equipment, and facilities. AMFA is committed to elevating the professional standing of technicians and to achieving progressive improvements in wages, benefits, and working conditions of the skilled people it represents. For more information about AMFA, visit www.amfanational.org.