March 27, 2023
Participants for AMFA
Bret Oestreich – National President
Earl Clark – Region I Director
Will Abbott – Region II Director
Tony Christner – Airline Representative
Lucas Middlebrook – Legal Counsel
Participants for Sun Country Airlines
Kristen Peterson – Sr. Director, Labor & Employment
Bobby Purzitza – Director of Maintenance
Jacki Thompson – Legal Counsel
Laurie Lofgren – Labor Consultant
The AMFA-SCA Negotiating Committee is providing this update to the membership at Sun Country Airlines (SCA). This is the only official authorized source of negotiating communications by the Committee.
The parties held a three-day bargaining session, March 21-23 in Minneapolis to continue bargaining toward a first collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for the SCA group. AMFA began Day 1 by presenting its first proposal on Article 4 – Classifications, which is the article that sets forth the different job classifications covered by the CBA and a summary of the duties associated with each. AMFA also presented a counterproposal to Article 3 – Status of Agreement, which deals with issues related to corporate mergers and sales. The parties engaged in productive discussion as it related to both articles and spent the remainder of Day 1 in caucus preparing their respective proposals and counterproposals.
At the outset of Day 2, AMFA presented its first proposal for Article 8 – Field Service, which covers field service trips, such as Field Work or Rescue Missions. In addition, AMFA presented a revised version of its original proposal on Article 26 – Union Security, which deals with payment of dues and related issues. The Company had not responded to AMFA’s original proposal on this article, which was presented in October 2022. We are hopeful, unlike with the first version of this proposal, that the Company will review and respond promptly with a counterproposal. On the afternoon of Day 2, the parties spent time at the table discussing questions the Company had regarding AMFA’s Article 4 – Classifications proposal. This dialogue was productive in helping each side understand the issues related to the Classification article. The parties spent the remainder of Day 2 in caucus and the Company advised it would be prepared with a counterproposal to Article 8 – Field Service on the morning of Day 3.
The Company presented its counterproposal to Article 8 – Field Service on the morning of Day 3. The parties engaged in table conversation regarding changes made by the Company in its counterproposal. The parties were apart on a few issues, which required further discussion to understand each side’s positions. AMFA, following the discussion, worked in caucus and was able to return a counterproposal on Article 8 – Field Service prior to conclusion of the session.
The Committee would like to thank the observers and others that either attended the session or came to speak with us. The next negotiation session is scheduled for April 4-6 in Minneapolis. If you would like to be an observer in future negotiation sessions, please communicate with your ALR, Tony Christner.
Remember to stay engaged, remain informed, and continue to support the Negotiating Committee as that support increases the ability to bargain a CBA your hard work deserves.
Fraternally,
